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Norway, Russia top women's 10K race
By Jesse Hyde
Deseret News Olympic specialist
SOLDIER HOLLOW — At times, the distance between cross country skiers from North America and those from Europe and Asia seems wider than the Atlantic Ocean.
Minutes after Tuesday's 10K women's classic race, Canadians Beckie Scott and Sara Renner, who finished 6th and 15th, leapt in the air and bumped chests like a pair of high school gym rats.
Meanwhile, the medalists — Bente Skari of Norway and two Russians, Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova — stood on the podium to accept their flowers. Later, Skari would shrug her shoulders and explain that it was her turn to win gold because the two Russians already had theirs from previous Olympics.
Tchepalova, who is not a strong classic skier, was surprised by her performance in a race she considered a "training session" for later events.
Judging by their reactions, finishing in the top 15 meant as much to the Canadians as winning a medal meant to the Norwegians and Russians.
"I don't think it will change our lives," Skari said of the effect a gold medal would have on her family. "I think it means I am good at my job."
Russian women have dominated cross country, winning the 4x5K relay in the last four Olympics, and in Norway the sport is nearly as common as riding a bicycle is here. Only one North American skier has ever won an Olympic cross country medal, American Bill Koch in 1976.
Considering that history, Tuesday was a banner day for North Americans. In addition to Scott's outstanding performance, Park City's Wendy Wagner finished 38th and three American men finished in the top 25 of the men's 15K classic race. To the optimist, Tuesday's results were an indication the gap between North Americans and Europeans is narrowing.
Scott's finish was the best ever in the Olympics by a Canadian female cross country skier, and it wasn't even her strongest event. That comes next Tuesday in the sprint, where a good outing could make her the first Canadian cross country medalist in history.
As much as the day belonged to the future of cross country skiing for Americans and Canadians, it was a celebration of the present for Estonians. Jaak Mae won the bronze and Andrus Veerpalu won the gold, the first Winter Olympic gold medal for Estonia.
The Estonian prime minister called Veerpalu shortly after the race to congratulate him.
E-MAIL: jhyde@desnews.com
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February 13, 2002
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