Berger claims gold for Norway in 15K biathlon race

Published Feb. 18, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Tora Berger of Norway earned her first Olympic gold medal by winning the women's 15-kilometer individual biathlon race, dominating the race from start to finish.

Berger missed her only target on her very last shot for a 1-minute penalty Thursday but had built up such a large lead that it didn't matter. She finished in 40 minutes, 58.2 seconds, beating silver medalist Elena Khrustaleva of Kazakhstan by 20.7 seconds.

Darya Domracheva of Belarus took the bronze after finishing 28.2 seconds behind Berger.

No one else came within a minute of the Norwegian.