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The quartet of Russian stars produced a blistering gold medal efficiency on the Winter Olympics
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) group has its third gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics after an imperious efficiency from the ladies’s 4x5km cross-country relay group in China on Saturday.
The superior Russian foursome romped residence after a tussle with the second-placed Germans, whereas powerhouses Sweden have been compelled to accept the bronze.
Russia’s ROC stars celebrated wildly on clinching victory as teen Veronika Stepanova anchored the ultimate leg.
There was even a celebratory twirl on the rostrum from a number of the quartet as they made historical past by turning into the primary winners of the occasion from their homeland since 2006 – bettering on the bronze medal end in the identical occasion in PyeongChang 4 years in the past.
Right here, we meet the 4 Russian snowboarding sensations who did their nation proud with their scintillating displaying on the Zhangjiakou Snowboarding Middle.
Yulia Stupak
Saturday’s race was a story of redemption for Stupak and capped an entire reverse from her despondent temper earlier throughout the Video games in Beijing.
After falling flat in her first race – ending down in twenty fourth place within the skiathlon every week in the past on Saturday – a tearful Stupak overtly questioned whether or not she ought to name time on her profession.
Calling her efficiency “whole trash,” the 27-year-old lamented the well being struggles which have preceded the months main as much as the Olympics.
And whereas Stupak suffered additional disappointment within the ladies’s dash and 10km traditional races, performances have been notably on the up as she roused herself from her dejected temper.
That continued on Saturday as Stupak was excellent as she charged out of the blocks over the primary 5km, making certain the ROC have been properly set from the outset.
After her teammates completed the job, Stupak was jubilant because the group made its technique to the rostrum, even breaking right into a dance that has grow to be one thing of a trademark for her ever since she jived on the Tour de Ski final yr.
“I don’t imagine it. I don’t know why the women imagine it, however I nonetheless don’t perceive what occurred,” an incredulous Stupak advised the Russian media, even bursting right into a tune.
A mother-of-one, Stupak now has three Olympic medals to her title after being a part of the Russian group which received bronze in the identical occasion in PyeongChang 4 years in the past, in addition to choosing up a bronze within the dash in South Korea.
Like her teammates, Stupak can now name herself an Olympic champion.
Natalia Nepryaeva
The ROC group’s second leg on Saturday was raced by Natalia Nepryaeva, who has grow to be one of many greatest stars of those Video games for her nation.
It was Nepryaeva who kicked off the ROC’s medal tally every week in the past on Saturday when she earned silver within the ladies’s skiathlon.
READ MORE:
Ski star Nepryaeva wins first medal for Russian group in Beijing
That was an emotional medal so as to add to the bronze that the Tver-born skier received as a part of the 4x5km relay group on the Winter Olympics 4 years in the past – alongside Stupak.
Nepryaeva got here agonizingly near claiming one other medal on the Beijing Video games on Thursday, however was simply 0.1 seconds off third place within the ladies’s 10km traditional, the place she collapsed in exhaustion and despair on the end line.
However dejection has turned to jubilation within the area of two days, after Nepryaeva stored the Russian group firmly within the operating for gold along with her second leg efficiency on Saturday.
“I left a number of feelings on the end line immediately,” Nepryaeva advised Russian TV.
“In reality, after I noticed that Yulia had already made such a niche, it was troublesome to deal with my feelings, I attempted not to concentrate to anybody and run my race as finest I may.
“I attempted to not let my rivals come again from behind. I’ve obtained great help in current days, so I’m immensely grateful – it helps loads.”
The 26-year-old is now set to go for extra Beijing glory alongside Stupak within the ladies’s dash relay on Wednesday.
Tatiana Sorina
Not like Stupak and Nepryaeva, Sorina bought a primary style of Olympic medal success as a part of the group on Saturday.
The 27-year-old put in a stable third leg because the ROC tussled with the Germans, who have been placing up an sudden battle for gold as they held off conventional superpowers Norway and Sweden, in addition to the Finns.
“I actually wished to get clear as quickly as doable – I attempted to do it on the slopes. However on the descents, once more, nothing labored out, due to this I used to be upset that I couldn’t present a lead for Veronika,” Sorina advised Match TV afterwards.
“I attempted to not get aggravated. I anticipated to run the stage higher. The Germans have been sturdy, they confirmed a efficiency. Who anticipated that the Germans would battle for medals.”
Regardless of that slight disappointment, Sorina greater than performed her half as she set the ROC group up for glory.
The Tver-born star – who gave start to a daughter in March 2020 and is married to fellow Russian skier and coach Egor Sorin – added to the world championship silver medal she earned with the Russian group in Germany final yr.
Veronika Stepanova
Final however actually not least, Russian teen Veronika Stepanova – a skier who has been a revelation since becoming a member of the senior ranks.
Although she had loads to do in an epic tussle with the Germans for gold, Stepanova stormed residence in her closing leg on Saturday to present the ROC a successful time of 53:41.0 – 18.2 seconds forward of the Germans.
The enjoyment from Stepanova was unrestrained as she crossed the end line, and at simply 21 years and 39 days outdated she turns into the youngest ever feminine cross-country Olympic champion, surpassing the earlier file held by countrywoman and 1998 gold medalist Yulia Chepalova.
“On the second lap I already felt my power, and the German was dropping floor. Every trace from the coaches was like new motivation. I prefer to determine the whole lot earlier than the end line,” Stepanova advised Match TV, revealing that ideas had come to thoughts of all of the Russian kids who can be impressed by the group’s win.
Former world junior champion Stepanova has already grow to be a pressure to be reckoned with within the senior ranks – and never solely on the snow.
Stepanova is a well-liked social media presence who is just not shy in sharing her views on-line – from taking Norwegian journalists to activity for his or her claims that Russians shouldn’t be in Beijing, to calling out the New York Occasions for “objectifying” feminine skiers.
Stepanova took to Instagram to rejoice the ROC win on Saturday, writing: “For the nation!”
After Stepanova brilliantly anchored the group to gold in Beijing, Russian followers can count on loads extra to come back from their nation’s budding snowboarding famous person.
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