Alexander Bolshunov (C), Ivan Yakimushkin (L) of ROC and Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway attend the flower ceremony after the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Centre. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Alexander Bolshunov of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) clinched the cross-country skiing men's mass start free gold at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games on Saturday.
Due to strong winds on the course, the the original 50km was shortened to 30km in men's mass start free competition as FIS officials made the decision before the start to protect the athletes' safety and reduce the time of their exposure to extreme conditions.
Bolshunov won the event in one hour, 11 minutes and 32.7 seconds, grabbing his third gold medal at Beijing 2022 cross-country skiing, after his victory in men's 15km + 15km skiathlon and men's 4 x 10km relay. He also took a silver in men's 15km classic and a bronze in men's team sprint classic at the National Cross-Country Skiing Center.
Bolshunov's teammate Ivan Yakimushkin finished in 1:11:38.2 to win the silver, 1.5 seconds ahead the bronze medalist Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway.
Alexander Bolshunov (front) of ROC competes during the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Centre. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Alexander Bolshunov of ROC competes during the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Centre. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Ivan Yakimushkin of ROC competes during the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Skiing Centre. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
Simen Hegstad Krueger (L) of Norway reacts during the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Centre. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Alexander Bolshunov (C), Ivan Yakimushkin (L) of ROC and Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway pose for photos after the cross-country skiing men's 50km mass start free of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 19, 2022. The men's 50km cross-country mass start race on Saturday has been delayed by an hour to 1500 local time (0700 GMT) and shortened to 30km due to high winds at the National Cross-Country Centre. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
