Russian Joins the Gold Club

Yulia Tchepalova completed a Russian sweep of women’s cross-country gold medals at the Olympics on Friday when she won the 30-kilometer freestyle race.

Tchepalova, 21, beat Italian veteran Stefania Belmondo by 10.2 seconds with Russia’s Larissa Lazutina getting the bronze medal to add to the three gold medals and the silver she already has won. She finished one minute 14.2 seconds behind Tchepalova.

Tchepalova is seen as the future for the powerful Russian women’s cross-country team with several of the top racers in the twilight of their careers.

Appearing in her first Winter Games, Tchepalova trailed Belmondo for the early part of the race and was 14 seconds behind her at the halfway mark.

Belmondo, the first Italian woman to win cross-country Olympic medals, faded in the second half and finally lost the lead at the 25-kilometer mark.

The Russians have now won every women’s cross-country gold medal.

Olga Danilova won the 15-kilometer classic style race on the first day of competition, Lazutina won the five-kilometer classical and the 10-kilometer freestyle.

With a team comprised of Nina Gavriliuk, Danilova, Yelena Vaelbe and Lazutina, the Russians also won the 4x5-kilometer relay event.

Lazutina has won three golds, a silver and a bronze, the most of any athlete at the Nagano Games.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

MEDALISTS

Cross-Country Skiing

Gold: Yulia Tchepalova, Russia

Silver: Stefania Belmondo, Italy

Bronze: Larissa Lazutina, Russia