Lazutina Turns Bad Attitude Into Gold

Russia’s Larissa Lazutina finally has an individual Olympic gold medal. Give an assist to her bad attitude.

Lazutina, after frustrating near-misses at Albertville and Lillehammer, won the 5-kilometer classical cross-country race Tuesday at the Nagano Games.

Slicing through a heavy snow, Lazutina gave Russia its 100th Winter Games gold medal and added to the silver medal she won in the 15-kilometer race Sunday.

She broke down in tears as she saw Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic cross the finish line for what Lazutina then knew was second place.

“I was waiting for a long time for Katya to come in,” Lazutina said. “They were all coming to congratulate me, but I still couldn’t believe it. I still wanted all of them to come in to make sure.”

Lazutina finished in 17 minutes 37.9 seconds over the rough Snow Harp course, with Neumannova 4.8 seconds slower. World Cup standings leader Bente Martinsen of Norway was third in 17:49.4.

The leading American was Kerrin Petty, of Townshend, Vt., who placed 51st in 19:36.6.

Tuesday’s race was the first leg of the pursuit competition. Lazutina’s triumph means she will have a 4.8-second advantage in the second leg Thursday, when the skiers return for a 10-K race.

Lazutina had won gold medals in the comparative anonymity of relay events. But the 32-year-old almost quit the sport last year after illnesses and persistent squabbles with Russian team leaders.

“It’s my bad attitude that’s helped me win,” she said. “I couldn’t work with the team manager. I had a serious talk with the team management and decided to go on my own.

“Last summer, the training was great and I believe these changes have brought good results now.”

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Medalists

Cross- Country Skiing

Women’s 5K

Gold: Larissa Lazutina, Russia

Silver: Katerina Neumannova, Czech Rep.

Bronze: Bente Martinsen, Germany