Finland’s Myllylae Pulls Off Surprise

They call him “Karpasi,” the man who lives in the woods and picks berries.

Now Mika Myllylae is an Olympic champion, thanks in part to his special high-altitude training and a strategic mistake by Norway’s Bjorn Dahlie, the best cross-country skier in the world, over his choice of ski wax.

Myllylae, a 28-year-old Finn and one of a team who benefit from the altitude training, powered to a spectacular victory in the 30-kilometer classical race Monday. He won by nearly a minute and a half over one of the toughest Olympic courses ever.

Meanwhile, Dahlie struggled with sticky skis and finished in 20th, 6 1/2 minutes behind.

“I felt very lonely out there in the woods,” said Dahlie, who needs one more gold medal to set a Winter Olympics record of six for men’s events. “I didn’t see any spectators and I was wondering if these were really the Olympics. We had a lot of problems with the skis. After about eight-nine kilometers, I realized I had the wrong pair.”

Norway’s Erling Jevne won his first Olympic medal, placing second, 1:31.3 behind. Silvio Fauner, a member of the Italian team that won the 1994 relay gold medal, won the bronze in 1:36:08.5. Fauner suffered a broken collarbone in a mountain-bike accident in September.

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Medalists

Cross-Country Skiing

Men’s 30-K

Gold: Mika Myllylae, Finland

Silver: Erling Jevne, Norway

Bronze: Silvio Fauner, Italy