Norway's Tora Berger clinches 15km individual gold

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

TORA Berger captured Norway's first biathlon gold medal of the 2010 Winter Olympics with a nerveless performance in the 15km individual in Whistler Olympic Park.

GOLDEN GIRL: Tora Berger collects Norway's first biathlon gold medal of Vancouver 2010 with 25km individual victory (Getty Images)

The 28-year-old, with only one World Cup victory to her name this season, produced a superb display, staying cool under pressure and missing just one target across her four runs.

Berger came home in 40.52.8 minutes but faced an anxious wait to see if she would claim her first Olympic medal, with a number of elite competitors remaining in the field.

The Norwegian produced a superb shooting performance and while her only miss came on her last visit to the range, she had done enough to top the podium.

"It was really good but the last shooting really hurt because I missed," said Berger.

 

"It's so good to be Olympic champion. I don't know what to say. It's really, really good. It's probably the biggest thing I've dreamed about.

"In the last shooting, I was a little too nervous, but all I was thinking about was the relay."

Ukraine's Valj Semerenko ensured Berger's wait was a nervous one and on her final visit to the shooting range she remained in contention.

She was successful with her first four efforts but after a brief pause failed to make it five out of five and her medal chances were gone.

Kazakhstan's Elena Khrustaleva, sixth in the World Championships last year, showed the benefits of producing an error free shooting performance with a minute's penalty added to each competitor's time, to clinch silver 20.7 seconds back.

Belarus' Darya Domracheva finished strongly to clinch bronze, a further 7.5 seconds behind.

German duo Kati Wilhelm and Andrea Henkel were late starters and both threatened to usurp Berger, but neither could hold their nerve on the shooting range and Berger was crowned champion.

World Cup leader Helena Jonsson was surprisingly not among the contenders, as she struggled home in 40th place, a full five minutes off the pace.

Compatriot Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek has also been in excellent form this season but the best she could muster was 14th as both Swedes paid the price for inaccuracy on the shooting range.

AS IT HAPPENS: Day seven of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver