Norwegian Anders Gløersen skied into third place in Wednesday’s 15-kilometer race for men at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, as another race ended with some surprise results in difficult conditions. Norway’s skiing star Petter Northug gave up when he realized he wouldn’t place among the top 15 skiers, and ended up in 62nd place.
Johan Olsson of Sweden won the gold medal, skiing 15 kilometers (nine miles) in 35 minutes, 1.6 seconds. He was followed by Maurice Manificat of France 17.8 seconds later and then Gløersen, with a time of 35:20.8.
Sweden’s favourite, Marcus Hellner, finished fourth, followed by Finn Hågen Krogh, who won gold with Northug in weekend competition. Hellner was upset over conditions on the tracks, claiming they weren’t salted enough, and that the best skiers should have started first.
Northug refused for once to get sour and upset. “I fell too far behind after two kilometers,” he told state broadcaster NRK. “I skied well from two- to 7.5 kilometers but lost too much time. Then I realized that wasn’t good enough to fight for a medal today.” He was a bit worried, though, about the men’s relay on Friday, that “Olsson can decide it” and Sweden may take gold.
“Now there are quite a few now who are afraid of Olsson,” Northug said.
newsinenglish.no staff
