Olympics Men’s 15 km Free medal results, highlights and more
By Zach Bigalke
After taking gold in Vancouver and Sochi, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna completed a three-peat in the 15 km free. Here’s how he pulled off the victory.
Over the course of his career, Dario Cologna has proved himself to be among the best in the world at shorter distances on cross-country skis. Whether skiing classical or freestyle, Cologna is a deft practitioner of the craft.
Eight years ago in Vancouver, the Swiss star snatched gold in the 15 km free. Cologna won ahead of 2005 world champion Pietro Piller Cottrer and 2008 FIS World Cup overall champion Lukáš Bauer.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 15 km format shifted to a classic race. It didn’t matter to Cologna. He came out and finished a half-minute ahead of Swedish skiers Johan Olsson and Daniel Richardsson.
Cologna arrived in Pyeongchang with a shot at becoming the first cross-country skier, male or female, to win three straight Olympic gold medals in the same event. By the sixth kilometer, the Swiss star had already built up a lead of more than 10 seconds.
MEDAL RESULT | Cross-Country Skiing Men's 15 km Free
Dario Cologna
Simen Hegstad Krüger
Denis Spitsov
Cologna would not give up the lead the rest of the way, ultimately finishing the 15km free in 33:43.9 to make history. Behind him, the race within the race unfolded as a group of elite skiers battled for the silver and bronze.
At the halfway point, Simen Hegstad Krüger was in fifth place on the course. He turned up the speed in the second half of the 15 km free, passing France’s Maurice Manificat to slot into second place in the final two kilometers.
He had to hold off a hard-charging Denis Spitsov, one of the Russian athletes competing under the Olympic flag. Spitsov blew past Martin Johnsrud Sundby in the final 1500 meters to keep Norway from going silver-bronze in the event.
Ultimately, though, the day belonged to Cologna. With his third straight Olympic gold in the event, Cologna staked his claim as the greatest cross-country skier at short distances in Olympic history.
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