WHISTLER, British Columbia, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Marit Bjoergen skied a dominating final leg Thursday to give Norway a victory in the women's Olympic 20-kilometer cross-country relay.
Bjoergen became the first competitor in the Vancouver Olympics to win three gold medals and the first to win four medals overall.
She anchored a team that included Vibeke Skofterud, Therese Johaug and Kristin Stoermer Steira and helped bring Norway its first gold medal in the event since Sarajevo in 1984.
After that victory 26 years ago, Norway finished second in the relay for five straight Olympics -- four times to the Russians and once to the Germans.
Bjoergen also won the cross-country sprint and pursuit races in these Olympics and took a bronze medal in the 10-kilometer freestyle race.
Steira, who had developed a reputation of just missing out on the medals, finally won the first one of her Olympic career. She finished fourth in three races in 2006 and also had a fifth-place finish during those Games.
As the final 5-meter leg began, Norway was in a virtual dead heat with Italy and had a 16-second lead over both Germany and Finland.
Bjoergen, however, made sure it was no contest. Italy's Sabina Valbusa faded away and eventually finished fourth. Bjoergen crossed the line 24 seconds in front of Germany's Claudia Nystad and 30 seconds ahead of Finland's Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.
Nystad was joined on the German relay team by Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle. Together, they won gold earlier in the Olympics in the cross-country team sprint.
