Japan’s Streak Ended

Norway ended Japan’s reign as two-time Olympic champion in the team Nordic combined on Friday, giving Bjarte Engen Vik his second gold medal of the Nagano Games.

Norway was so far ahead at the end that Fred Lundberg, the fourth leg in the 20-kilometer cross-country relay, was able to grab a Norwegian flag 400 meters from the finish and wave it as he crossed the line.

With Finland taking the silver and France the bronze, it was a disappointing day for the Japanese, who were watched by Emperor Akihito and 18,000 fans.

Tsugiharu Ogiwara, Satoshi Mori, Gen Tomii and world individual champion Kenji Ogiwara briefly held second place in the race, but wound up fifth, more than two minutes behind the winners.

Japan had won the Olympic titles in Albertville and Lillehammer, but had a considerably weaker lineup here and faded out of contention after poor performances in Thursday’s 90-meter ski jump portion.

Norway finished in 54 minutes 11.5 seconds, about 1:20 ahead of the field.

Second-leg skier Kenneth Braaten handed over to Vik, winner of the individual Nordic combined gold medal. When Vik sent Lundberg away for the final leg, the Norwegians had a lead of 1:17.6.

Finland’s Samppa Lajunen, Jari Mantila, Tapio Nurmela and Hannu Manninen lost the slight advantage they had after winning the ski jump, but they held on to finish second.

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MEDALISTS

Nordic Combined

TEAM

Gold: Norway

Silver: Finland

Bronze: France