Norway had to leave the gold at the past 2 Winter Games to Russia and Sweden respectively. 3 in a row, that shame was not allowed to happen to the Norwegians. But the Russians are putting a lot of pressure on the brothers Bø, Sturla Laegreid and Vetle Christiansen.
The last Russian biathlete Eduard Latypov was allowed to start his assignment with a straight lead, but what should have been a lap of honour, ended in a nightmare. He needed 8 shots in the standing shooting and then only hit 3 more times, costing him 2 rounds of penalty. Russia fell from sure gold to bronze.
The snow tracks were so clear for Norway that they still grabbed the title. For Johannes Thingnes Bø his 3rd at these Games and his 4th in total. His brother Tarjei was also there 12 years ago, when Norway last won relay gold.
Nevertheless, Johannes Thingnes Bø is not yet the most decorated biathlete at these Games. Quentin Fillon Maillet came in second with France, taking his 5th Beijing place.
The Belgians knew in advance that it would not be easy not to double up and not be allowed to finish the match. Again the shooting was not great, but penalty rounds were avoided.
Florent Claude, Thierry Langer and Tom Lahaye-Goffart managed to keep Slovakia behind, but Cesar Beauvais was out of action as before he could, the Belgians were doubled up and taken off course.
