Sochi Olympics: Ukraine wins gold in women’s biathlon relay

SOCHI, Russia — Ukraine won the Olympic women’s 4x6-kilometer biathlon relay on Friday for its first gold medal of the Sochi Games.

The team of twins Vita and Valj Semerenko, Juliya Dzhyma and Olena Pidhrushna missed five targets but avoided penalty loops to finish in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 2.5 seconds.

Defending champion Russia was 26.4 behind to take silver, and Norway trailed by 37.6 to win bronze.

It was the second medal for Ukraine these games, after Vita Semerenko took bronze in the women’s 7.5K sprint.

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