Triple gold for Greis at Olympics biathlon
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-26 13:19

Michael Greis of Germany won his third gold of the Olympics when he claimed victory in the inaugural men's 15km mass-start biathlon event at the Winter Games.

Greis won the opening event of the biathlon calendar here, the 20km individual, and also claimed gold after anchoring the German team to top podium spot in the 4x7.5km relay.

Germany's Michael Greis holds up the gold medal he won in the men's biathlon mass start, at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Cesana San Sicario. Greis won his third gold biathlon medal, following his wins in the men's team relay, and the 20km, while the silver mass start medal went to Tomasz Sikora of Poland and the bronze to Ole Einar Bjorndalen of Norway. [AFP]

The silver medal went to surprise package Tomasz Sikora of Poland, whose previous best individual Olympic finish was 25th in the pursuit at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, and the bronze to Ole Einar Bjorndalen of Norway.

Greis completed the five gruelling circuits of the 3km San Sicario course in 47min 20.0sec, 6.3sec ahead of Sikora and 12.3sec in front of Bjoerndalen.

The 29-year-old German picked up only one penalty loop for missing one of his 20 targets from four visits to the shooting range, two prone and two shooting.

"I was kind of surprised," said Greis. "To be going home with three golds is a great result for me.

"I came into the Olympics in good shape and focused. I'm very happy."

Bjoerndalen paid the price for missing three targets, two in his last visit to the range, after leading for much of the race in cold, snowy conditions.

"I was in super shape but I was let down by my last shooting round when I had two penalty loops to complete.

"I'm a little disappointed with my result," the Norwegian said, adding that he was still happy to be leaving the Games with two silvers and a bronze to his name.

Sikora, who finished fifth in the mass start at last year's world championships, picked up only one penalty loop - which takes top male biathletes around 22sec to complete.

The 32-year-old Pole said he knew it was a question of going for silver after Greis took control in the race for the finish line, with Bjoerndalen only 24sec behind.

"I was forced to make the most of the situation when I knew gold was impossible," he said.

Raphael Poiree of France, a hot favourite for the event after placing second and third in the two World Cup mass start events this season, finished a disappointing 12th position at 1:04.9 after missing three times with his .22 calibre rifle.

"I was a little tired," moaned Poiree. "I had some difficulties.

"Luckily we had a good relay race because it would have been hard to leave without a medal."

The early part of the race became a duel between Sikora and Bjoerndalen, winner of five gold medals in the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Games.

The Norwegian, who had already picked up two silvers this time around in the pursuit and individual events, led after the first three visits to the shooting range but fell to third place after the fourth shooting test.

Greis, however, kept his nerve and took the lead from Sikora shortly after the fourth shoot and maintained his advantage through to the finish.

France's Vincent Desfrasne, winner of the 12.5km sprint, was the big casualty of the chaotic start of the 30 skiers in the mass start in front of a big crowd, falling as his rivals raced away.

The Frenchman bravely clawed his way back through the field to 5th at one stage but four penalty loops saw him fade to 11th position.