Veerpalu Continues Estonia’s Domination

Andrus Veerpalu took a celebratory bow on the podium, his right hand still grasping the gold medal around his neck.

Veerpalu smiled and waved to his supporters from home cheering and waving flags in the stands.

Oh, what an Olympics this has been for Estonia.

The Estonians, not the Norwegians or Germans, are dominating these Games in cross-country, and Veerpalu’s sensational skiing in tough conditions Friday made it three gold medals overall for the tiny Baltic nation of 1.3 million people.

Veerpalu defended his Olympic 15-kilometer classic title from Salt Lake City a day after countrywoman Kristina Smigun won her second gold of the Turin Games in the women’s 10-kilometer classic race.

She also won the 15-kilometer pursuit Sunday.

“We have three golds for Estonia,” Veerpalu said. “We are a very small country, so it’s a great day for the country.”

Once his top competition had finished in the interval-start race, Veerpalu raised his poles into the air in triumph, then quickly took a big swig from his water jug.

Estonia has a strong cross-country tradition but rarely is discussed in the same breath with Finland, Germany, Norway or Russia.

Smigun and Veerpalu are changing that in a hurry.

Veerpalu finished in 38 minutes, 1.3 seconds to beat silver medalist Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic by 14.5 seconds. Germany’s Tobias Angerer won his first individual Olympic medal by taking the bronze, 19.2 seconds back in a race skied in fresh snow.

Veerpalu, 35, is a classic specialist who won his country’s first Winter Olympics gold medal four years ago. He also won a silver medal in the 50-kilometer race in 2002.

“It’s a very good Olympics for me,” he said of these Games. “It was a very hard day but my skis are very good, and it was also the very good work of my technician. I’m very satisfied.”

Robel Teklemariam became the first Ethiopian to compete in a Winter Olympics and the 31-year-old finished 84th.

Afterward, facing a pack of media members, Teklemariam -- dreadlocks hanging out of his hat and sunglasses perched on his head -- said he hopes to ski again in the next Olympics.

“I didn’t know if I’d end up in the Olympics, but I definitely dreamed about it since I was 12,” said Teklemariam, who trains in Colorado. “I was really excited and nervous. This is what I’ve been waiting for.”