Norwegian Johannes Husflot Klapo and Sweden Stena Nelson won the classic cross-country singles competition at the Winter Olympics in Pyongyang on Tuesday. Both got the first gold from five rings.
The 21-year-old Kläbo won by accident, making him the youngest male Olympic singles cross-country champion ever. He won the final, but for second place there was a huge battle between Italian Federico Pellegrino and Russian Alexander Bolsonov, with the former proving in the end that he was two hundred seconds faster.
Ádám Kónya bowed out the qualifiers and finished 68th.
The 24-year-old Nelson also won the first Olympic gold of his career. Already convincing performances in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, then dominating the Six Finals. Behind him, defending champion and world champion Mayken Kaspersen Falla and Russian Yulia Belorukova fought hard for the silver medal, eventually reaching the finish line by a narrow margin.
Both races were held in snowy and very cold weather at the Alpensia Cross-Country Center.
Cross Country, Single Free Sprint (1.25 km), Olympic Champion:
Stina Nelson (Sweden) 3: 03.84 am
2. Mike Kaspersen Falla (Norway) 3: 06.87
3. Julia Belorukova (Olympic Athletes from Russia) 3: 07.21
Cross Country, Single Free Sprint (1.4 km), Olympic Champion:
Johannes Husflot Klapo (Norway) 3: 05.75 am
2 – Federico Pellegrino (Italy) 3: 07.09
3. Alexander Bolsonov (Olympic Athletes from Russia) 3: 07.11
68. Adam Konya
