Zaripov collects second gold of the Games in Vancouver

IREK Zaripov led home a Russian clean sweep in the men's sitting 12.5km biathlon race as female counterpart Maria Iovleva also topped the podium in Vancouver.

DOUBLING UP: Irek Zaripov romps home to scoop his second gold medal of the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Zaripov came home in 42:22.4 minutes to capture his second gold of the Games, having already scooped victory in the 2.4km pursuit.

The 26-year-old came home seven-and-a-half seconds ahead of compatriot Vladimir Kiselev while bronze went to Roman Petushkov, who was a further 41.1 seconds off the pace.

Meanwhile, Iovleva completed a fine day for Russia, coming home 21.2 seconds ahead of the Ukraine's Olena Iurkovska, while Germany's Andrea Eskau had to settle for bronze.

Elsewhere, Germany were just as dominant in the visually impaired races as both Wilhelm Brem and Verena Bentele topped the podium in Whistler.

Brem came home in 38.28.6 minutes in the 12.5km race, 4.1 seconds ahead of Nikolay Polukhin of Russia, while bronze went to Vitaliy Lukyanenko.

And in the women's equivalent, Bentele romped to gold ahead of Russian duo Liubov Vasilyeva and Mikhalina Lysova, who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Nils-Erik Ulset captured gold for Norway in the 12.5km standing event, coming home ahead of Grygorii Vovchynskyi of the Ukraine and bronze medallist Josef Giesen of Germany.

And Anna Burmistrova collect silver in the women's 12.5km standing race to claim Russia's 23 medal of the Games as Oleksandra Kononova and Iuliia Batenkova secured gold and bronze for the Ukraine.