Redemption for Medvedtseva as Russians capture relay gold

From Sportsbeat Staff, in Whistler

WORLD champions Russia obliterated the field to defend their Olympic women's biathlon 4x6.5km title at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

ATONEMENT: Russia's Olga Medvedtseva missed her country's relay gold medal in Turin but plays a crucial part in defending the title in Vancouver (Getty Images)

The quartet of Svetlana Sleptsova, Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, Olga Medvedtseva and Olga Zaitseva translated their World Cup dominance onto the Olympic stage to win in 1:09:36.3 hours -  32.8 seconds clear of silver medallists France.

The title was sweet redemption for Medvedtseva who missed the victory four years ago after failing a drugs test earlier in the Games from an over-the-counter medicine.

And the dominant performance was made all-the-more important as the Russian squad had only captured one biathlon medal - silver for Zaitseva in the 12.5km mass start - until today.

Despite missing golden girl Magdalena Neuner, earning a deserved break after securing two golds and a silver already in the Games, the German challenge was always going to be strong.

And it was they who dominated the early stages with France sticking close behind.

France's Marie Dorin took over the lead coming into the first shoot of the third leg but five misses from the sprint bronze medallist saw their title challenge drift away as the 23-year old was forced into a couple of penalty loops.

Germany's Martina Beck also missed once in her first visit to the range, allowing Medvedtseva to ski clear after a clean shoot.

The Russian wasn't going to squander her chance for atonement and shot away, extending her advantage to 53 seconds after another flawless shot as she handed over to anchor skier Zaitseva.

And while the Russian felt the pressure in her final shoot, missing twice, the gap was too large and the 31-year old eased home.

The battle for silver was well-and-truly on and Sandrine Bailly and Andrea Henkel tussled for control.

A miss from Bailly in the first shoot allowed Henkel through into second but a clean shoot on her final visit to the range saw the French skier back in front and she sprinted clear to finish 4.3 seconds clear in silver.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Follow day 12 of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver