The Norwegians shine at Whistler Olympic Park, but Belarus also tastes success, with two biathlon medals.
Whistler Olympic Park on day seven belonged to Norway, as first Tora Berger (pictured below) outclassed the field to win the women’s 15km individual event – her first success on the world stage in the 28-year-old biathlete’s career – and then Emil Hegle Svendsen edged out his compatriot and Olympic legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen to win the Men’s 20km individual race.
And there were also tears of joy for Belarus’ Darya Domracheva, an Olympic Solidarity athlete profiled in Olympic Review issue 71, who earned bronze behind Berger in the 15km. After a season of injuries she finally realised her Olympic dream.
“It’s not easy to have an Olympic medal. It’s very difficult work,” said Domracheva afterwards, adding: “The hardest part is fighting, fighting, fighting every day, just with myself.”