Kuzmina strikes shock sprint gold on Olympic debut

From Sportsbeat staff, in Whistler

SLOVAKIA'S Anastaszia Kuzmina took advantage of a below-par display from the pre-race favourites to claim a surprise gold in the 7.5km biathlon sprint at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

SHOCK WIN: Slovakia's Anastazia Kuzmina scoops a surprise win in the 7.5km sprint with Germany's Magdalena Neuner second and France's Marie Dorin third in Whistler (Getty Images)

Billed as a battle between the German and Swedish competitors at the Whistler Olympic Park, 25-year old Kuzmina crept through unnoticed to win her first career Olympic race in 19:55.6 minutes.

The Slovakian, who struck 12.5km mass start silver at last year's World Championships in Pyeongchang, was lying 22nd after a miss in her prone shoot but a lightning-fast standing shoot propelled Kuzmina back into contention.

Germany's former World Cup champion Magdalena Neuner finished 1.5 seconds back to strike silver on her Olympic debut but the whole German team suffered from a lack of accuracy on the shooting range.

"I'm surprised, I gave everything I had. If only I could have gone a little faster. I fought for it. I had a very good race," said Neuner.

"I lost strength in the last leg, and I made a mistake at the end of the shooting.

"I was nervous, but I am enjoying these Winter Olympic Games. This snow is very wet, it was hard to ski."

Triple Olympic medallist and world sprint champion Kati Wilhelm missed three shots while a miss on each stage put paid to world silver medallist Simone Hauswald and double Olympic champion Andrea Henkel's hopes.

Neuner led after the prone shoot and, having romped to gold in the last World Cup sprint in Antholz-Anterselva, looked favourite for gold.

But a miss in her standing shoot cost the German a penalty lap and, despite a desperate sprint for the finish, the difference proved too much.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Helena Jonsson and Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek suffered from an unusual lack of pace in Whistler.

World Cup leader Jonsson completed ten perfect shots but finished 46.9 seconds back in 12th and defending 12.5km mass start champion Olofsson-Zidek crossed the line 57.9 behind Kuzmina in 20th despite just one miss in her prone shoot.

France's Marie Dorin echoed compatriot Florence Baverel-Robert, who claimed a surprise gold in Turin four years ago, to scoop bronze 9.9 behind Kuzmina.

"The skiing section felt good for me, I'm back in shape," said Dorin.

"And at last my shooting was better, even though my legs were shaking!

"Up until a few days ago I was on holiday because my only goal was just to be here at the Olympics.]

"And once the race started I forgot everything, and the results weren't on my mind."

IN PICTURES: Anastazia Kuzmina's surprise victory in the women's 7.5km sprint

AS IT HAPPENS: Day two from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver