ESOC: Russians dominant on Day 1

The European SkiO Championships (ESOC) got under way today with the Sprint race, and the new European Champions are both from Russia: Marina Viatkina with victory by 1 second and Vladislav Kiselev in front by a convincing 11 seconds; he is also the current world champion in Sprint. As in the last two years in championship events, the Russian team demonstrated strength in depth – this time achieving a clean sweep of the medals!

Kartola in southern Bulgaria provided 20-50 cm snow depth and bright weather with a light breeze for this first competition, which as usual with Sprint was fast and furious over the 2.4 km (12 controls) and 2.8 km (15) courses for women and men respectively. The men’s race was held first, and local hope Stanimir Belomazhev performed well but ended just 8 seconds down from a medal position. A remarkable race by 48-year-old Eduard Krennikov brought him the silver medal today, showing he is still close to his best in both mind and body. Sergey Gorlanov took the bronze, ten seconds slower than Khrennikov. The Russian team packed well with 6 of their team in the top 10.

Gold in the Sprint U23 World SkiO Championships was won by Russian Igor Linkevich who was placed 8^th in the race; silver medallist Jørgen Baklid, Norway was just 5 seconds slower, and 13 seconds behind again was bronze medallist Artemiy Dorma, Russia.

Swedish hope Magdalena Olsson did not start in the women’s race today, and it was world champion Daisy Kudre, Estonia who came closest to the leading Russians. She finished fourth, 6 seconds away from a medal. 21-year-old Olesia Riazanova was 1 second away from gold in second place; along with the winner Marina Viatkina, she is a U23 athlete and so they also take gold and silver in the Sprint U23 Championships. ESOC bronze medallist is Tatiana Oborina, who finished 6 seconds down on the winner, whilst the U23 bronze goes to Judita Traubaite, Lithuania, 11^th-placed in the race. The Russian women did even better than the men – 7 athletes in the top 10 in the results.

Leading results, ESOC Sprint

Women