Norway's Bjoergen adds gold to Olympic collection

Crawford of Canmore, Giaizova of Montreal fail to advance to semis

Last Updated: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | 9:14 PM ET

By Lindsey Craig, CBC Sports

Norway's Marit Bjoergen celebrates winning the gold medal during the individual classic sprint in Whistler on Wednesday. (Matthias Scharder/Associated Press)

Marit Bjoergen of Norway captured a gold medal in the individual sprint classic at Whistler Olympic Park on Wednesday for her second cross-country skiing medal of the Vancouver Games.

Bjoergen finished the freestyle sprint course in three minutes 39.2 seconds.

Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland earned silver, with Petra Majdic of Slovenia taking bronze.

Bjoergen won bronze on Monday in the 10-kilometre race and took a silver in both the 2002 and 2006 Olympics Games.

Majdic, No. 1 in the World Cup standing and considered a contender to win multiple medals, was utterly depleted at the finish and had to be carried off.

In the qualification round, Majdic winced in pain after hurting her ribs in a training run.

Torino gold medallist Chandra Crawford of Canmore, Alta., and Montreal's Daria Gaiazova failed to advance to the semifinals. Gaiazova ended up 22nd, four spots ahead of Crawford.

When Crawford took gold at the 2006 Games, athletes competed in a freestyle type of skiing, which is Crawford's specialty.

For the 2010 Games, officials changed the race technique from skate skiing (freestyle) to classic.

"I get a little down about this whole classic sprint," said Crawford. "I wish I could be defending my gold skate sprinting. I have so much confidence in my ability in skate technique.

"At the same time, what a journey to get here. This day a year ago, I had surgery on my lower legs, I was in a wheelchair. It's been a tough road to get here. I missed so much training."

Sara Renner, 33, of Canmore and Perianne Jones, 24, of Ottawa failed to reach the quarter-finals.

Renner, who finished 34th, was a member of Canada's silver-medal winners in team sprint at the 2006 Games.

Jones was 41st.