Stunning Neuner romps to second biathlon gold in Whistler

From Sportsbeat Staff, in Whistler

GERMANY'S golden girl Magdalena Neuner collected her third individual biathlon medal with gold in the 12.5km mass start at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

GLITTERING GAMES: Magdalena Neuner becomes the new golden girl of the German biathlon squad with her third medal - and second gold - of the Winter Olympics in the 12.5km mass start (Getty Images)

The 23-year old pin-up, who won silver in the 7.5km sprint before upgrading to gold in the 10km pursuit, tracked down Russia's Olga Zaitseva in the final ski before winning in 35:19.6 minutes.

World champion Zaitseva had looked destined for a first individual Olympic gold after pulling away from the final standing shoot with a seven second advantage.

But Neuner, who had skied two penalty loops compared to Zaitseva's one, quickly cut down the difference before elegantly sweeping away from the Russian to continue her glittering Games in Vancouver.

Zaitseva managed to hang on to silver, 5.5 seconds back, holding off early leader and Neuner's compatriot Simone Hauswald who collected a first Olympic medal in bronze, another 1.8 back.

But there was no catching Neuner and the German admitted she turned on the gas after sniffing a medal position coming into her final shoot.

"I was eighth and though everything was going okay but then, at the last shooting, I really fought for it," said Neuner.

"And then all of a sudden, there was only Simone and the Russian in front of me so I started the turbo.

"To win a third medal is a surprise for me. I believe in myself and knew I could get a medal but now to have three - I need some time to let it sink in!

"At first, winning a medal is really stressful because everyone is dragging you from here to there. I felt kind of depressed at first because it was all a bit too much for me. But I feel great right now."

 

The German trio of Andrea Henkel, Kati Wilhelm and Neuner - who have 12 Olympic medals between them - led the way into the first prone shoot.

But it was Hauswald who pulled away from the shooting range in first after her compatriots all missed shots and had to take penalty loops.

The 30-year old sensed her chance and attempted to break the leading group, racing away from the second prone shoot in first after another perfect display.

But it was all change at the third shoot as Hauswald missed twice, allowing Olga Medvedtseva into pole position and the trailing challengers, including Neuner, back into the fight.

And while Medvedtseva went through the fourth stage clean to complete a flawless set of displays on the range, the 34-year old doesn't have the speed she used to and slipped behind the podium trio as they entered the final ski.

Instead, the fight came down to Zaitseva and the two Germans, despite the three pretenders all having missed in their third shoot.

While six-time Olympic medallist Wilhelm again disappointed to finish more than three minutes back in 25th, Henkel crossed the line ninth and it would take a brave man to bet against Neuner scooping her third gold with Germany in the 4x6km relay on Tuesday.

And Neuner agreed the Germans will be hard to beat.

"We all want the gold, that's for sure," said Neuner. "I am absolutely confident about myself these days and when you look at today's result, the whole team performed well.

"The other girls are really strong so I think we have a big chance. But each medal is worth a lot - I sometimes think it's a shame that in Germany, everybody is only counting the golds.

"But Simone now knows the meaning of a bronze and I know how much a silver means so we will certainly be happy with any medal we might get."

 

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