Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland had already made history as the first woman to win four biathlon medals at a single Winter Olympics. But on Friday in the women’s 12.5km mass start, the 31-year-old from Lillehammer added her fifth, a bronze.
“To be honest, I don’t know how that’s happened,” said Roeiseland, who is competing in her second Olympics. “My goal was to win one gold medal. Now I have three and two bronze. It’s just amazing. I’m really proud.”
France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won gold in the women’s 12.5km - her first medal of these 2022 Winter Games after a disappointing showing in the 7.5km sprint (48th) and 15km individual (40th).
Roeiseland’s Norwegian teammate Tiril Eckhoff claimed silver, giving her a “complete set” after she won mixed relay gold and bronze in the pursuit. Eckhoff is also now the second-most decorated female biathlete of all time thanks to her eight career Olympic medals.
Roeiseland and Eckhoff skied most of the 12.5km biathlon side-by-side.
ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 18, 2022: Marte Olsbu Roeiseland of Norway (L) and Tiril Eckhoff of Norway compete in the women’s biathlon 12.5km mass start at the National Biathlon Centre at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Sergei Bobylev/TASS (Photo by Sergei BobylevTASS via Getty Images)
Sergei Bobylev/TASS
“To go the whole race with Tiril, my teammate, that was really fun and it was almost like home,” said Roeiseland. “We just fought and gave it all, and I am so happy that I can share the podium with her.”
Eckhoff shared a more colorful reaction to competing alongside her Norwegian teammate, “We were standing there in the third shooting and we s--- our pants. It was so much fun.”
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