Estonian Smigun Wins Estonia’s First Gold

In an event missing nearly 12 athletes for blood doping, Kristina Smigun won Estonia’s first gold of these Olympic Games.

Kristina Smigun of Estonia skated to gold in the women’s 15-kilometer pursuit Sunday, the first cross-country event since 12 athletes were suspended from the sport for failed blood tests.

World Cup leader and favorite Marit Bjorgen of Norway dropped out before the midway point of the race with a stomach problem.

The field was also without Salt Lake City gold medalist Evi Sachenbacher of Germany, one of the skiers suspended this week for high levels of hemoglobin in their blood.

“It was a clean race,” said Canada’s Beckie Scott, the defending champion who finished sixth. “Things are getting better in our sport. The testing is good and I’m confident it was a clean event.”Smigun made a strong push in the home stretch through the stadium to overtake silver medalist Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic, winning in 42 minutes, 48.7 seconds – 1.9 seconds ahead of Neumannova. The two broke away from the pack in the final couple of kilometers.Russia’s Evgenia Medvedeva-Abruzova earned bronze in 43:03.2.

source: Cross-country gold for Estonia