Norway wins women's 4x5-km cross-country
3rd gold of 2010 Games for Marit Bjoergen
Last Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010 | 5:13 PM ET
By Lindsey Craig, CBC Sports
Norway's Kristen Steira, left, is urged on by teammate Therese Johaug during the relay Thursday at Whistler Olympic Park. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)Team Norway came first in the women's 4x5-kilometre relay on Thursday, with Marit Bjoergen skiing the anchor leg to collect her third gold medal of the 2010 Games.
The Norwegians won with a time of 55:19.5
Taking silver was the German contingent with a time of 55:44.1, followed by Finland, which caught up to the frontrunners to take bronze.
The Finns crossed the line at 55:49.9.
The Canadian team of Dasha Gaiazova, Perianne Jones, Chandra Crawford and Madeleine Williams fell behind early and failed to recover.
They placed sixteenth with a time of 1:00:05.0.
Canada's Sara Renner did not take part in the relay, deciding instead to save her energy for Saturday's 30-kilometre mass start.
Renner took silver in the team sprint at the 2006 Torino Games.
Norway dominated the event, with Bjoergen crossing the line 24.6 seconds ahead of Claudia Nystad of Germany.
She cruised over the finish line waving her country's flag.
