Sweden wins men's cross-country skiing relay

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-02-25 08:58

WHISTLER, Canada: Marcus Hellner pulled away on the last leg to help Sweden win the men's 4X10-kilometer cross-country skiing relay at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games here on Wednesday.

Sweden wins men's cross-country skiing relay

Gold medalists Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, Anders Soedergrena and Marcus Hellner (L-R) of Sweden celebrate on the podium beside silver medalists of Norway and bronze medalists of the Czech Republic during a flower ceremony after the men's 4x10 km relay cross country final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, February 24, 2010. [Agencies]

Hellner separated himself from Emmanuel Jonnier of France and Martin Koukal of the Czech Republic on the final lap.

When he skied into the stadium, he had plenty of time to collect a Swedish flag to wave as he paraded down the final straight.

Sweden finished the 4x10-kilometre race in one hour 45 minutes and 5.4 seconds. Petter Northug of Norway skied a furious final leg to secure the silver for Norway, who finished 15.9 seconds behind Sweden. The Czechs took the bronze in 1:45.21.9.

"We have had a fantastic Olympics and of course we've been really well prepared for this, and that's the main reason we've been so successful," said Johan Olsson, Sweden's second-leg skier who took the bronze in the pursuit.

"It was my goal to push really hard, I felt strong and could really turn it up on the second and third laps," he said.

Anders Soedergren, Sweden's third-leg skier, and France's Maurice Manificat took turns pushing the pace on the third leg to maintain their large lead, before Hellner did the rest for the Swedes.

"The guys did a perfect job," Hellner said. "I just had to close it out perfectly."