Norway wins mixed relay in biathlon worlds opener

More sports February 07, 2013

Norway wins mixed relay in biathlon worlds opener

Photo: AP Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen reacts after winning the 2x6km + 2x7.5km mixed relay at the Biathlon World Championship in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. Hegle won the race with teammates Tora Berger, Tarjei Boe and Synnoeve Solemdal.

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NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic (AP) — Norway proved unbeatable in the mixed relay once again, winning its third consecutive gold medal in the discipline on the opening day of the biathlon world championships on Thursday.

Emil Hegle Svendsen anchored the Norwegians to the victory, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 12 minutes, 4.9 seconds. The Norwegian team also included Tora Berger, Synnoeve Solemdal and Tarjei Boe. The mixed event features two women and two men on each team and will be part of the Winter Olympics for the first time next year in Sochi.

France, with World Cup leader Martin Fourcade as its anchor, finished 20 seconds behind Norway for the silver. Host Czech Republic earned the bronze, finishing 32.3 seconds behind to the delight of some 25,000 cheering spectators.

The championships, an annual event, continue on Saturday with sprint races.

Subjects
People
- Emil Svendsen,
- Tora Berger
Locations
- Norway,
- Czech Republic,
- Western Europe,
- Europe

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