The quartet of Russian stars produced a glittering gold medal performance at the Winter Olympics
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has its third gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Beijing after an impressive performance from the women’s 4×5 km long relay team in China on Saturday.
The cruel Russian foursome nagged home after a battle with the two Germans, while the power packages Sweden was forced to settle for the bronze.
Russia’s ROC stars celebrated wildly after winning when the young Veronika Stepanova anchored the last leg.
It was even a festive spin on the podium from some of the quartet as they made history by becoming the first winners of the event from their home country since 2006 – and improved the bronze medal at the same event in PyeongChang four years ago.
Olympic queens: Yulia Stupak, Natalia Nepryaeva, Tatiana Sorina and Veronika Stepanova. Ian MacNicol / Getty Images
Here we meet the four Russian ski sensations who made their nation proud with their glittering show at the Zhangjiakou Skiing Center.
Julia Stupak
Saturday’s race was a story of childbirth for Stupak and ended a complete reversal from her desperate mood earlier in the Beijing Games.
After falling flat in his first race – finished in 24th place in the skiathlon a week ago on Saturday – a tearful Stupak openly wondered if she would call time on her career.
The 27-year-old called his performance “total trash” and lamented the health problems that have preceded the months leading up to the Olympics.
And while Stupak suffered further disappointment in the women’s sprint and 10 km classic races, the performance was clearly on the rise when she awoke from her depressed mood.
It continued on Saturday when Stupak was superb when she unloaded the blocks during the first 5 km, and ensured that ROC was well tuned from the start.
After her teammates finished the job, Stupak was jubilant when the team took to the podium and even broke into a dance that has become something of a brand for her ever since she jived at the Tour de Ski last year.
Stupak spun when the ROC team won relay gold in Beijing. Tom Weller / VOIGT / DeFodi images via Getty Images
“I do not believe in it. I do not know why the girls believe in it, but I still do not understand what happened,” an infidel Stupak told Russian media and even burst into a song.
Stupak is a mother and now has three Olympic medals in her name after being part of the Russian team that took bronze in the same competition in PyeongChang four years ago, and took a bronze in the sprint in South Korea.
Like his teammates, Stupak can now call himself an Olympic champion.
Natalia Nepryaeva
The ROC team’s second stage on Saturday was competed by Natalia Nepryaeva, who has become one of the biggest stars in these games for her nation.
It was Nepryaeva who kicked off ROC’s medal count a week ago last Saturday when she took silver in the women’s skiathlon.
Nepryaeva has two medals to her name at the Beijing Games. Kevin Voigt / DeFodi Photos via Getty Images
It was an emotional medal to add to the bronze that the Tverfรถdde skier won as part of the 4×5 km relay team at the Winter Olympics four years ago – together with Stupak.
Nepryaeva was painfully close to taking another medal at the Games in Beijing on Thursday, but was only 0.1 seconds from third place in the ladies’ classic 10 km, where she collapsed in exhaustion and despair at the finish line.
But the depression has turned into cheers within two days, after Nepryaeva kept the Russian team steady in the hunt for the gold with his performance in the second leg on Saturday.
Nepryaeva and the Russian team fought a hard battle with Germany. Tom Weller / VOIGT / DeFodi images via Getty Images
“I left a lot of emotions at the finish line today,” Nepryaeva told Russian television.
“In fact, when I saw that Yulia had already made such a gap, it was difficult to deal with my emotions, I tried not to pay attention to anyone and run my race as best I could.
“I tried not to let my rivals come back from behind. I’ve received tremendous support in recent days, so I’m extremely grateful – it helps a lot.”
The 26-year-old is now set to invest in more Beijing glory together with Stupak in the ladies’ sprint relay on Wednesday.
Tatiana Sorina
Unlike Stupak and Nepryaeva, Sorina got a first taste of Olympic medal success as part of the team on Saturday.
The 27-year-old canceled a stable third leg when ROC fought with the Germans, who faced an unexpected battle for gold when they kept away from the traditional superpowers Norway and Sweden, as well as the Finns.
Sorina kept the ROC team in battle. AP Photo / Francisco Seco
“I really wanted to finish as soon as possible – I tried to do it on the slopes. But on the downhills, again, nothing worked, because of this I was upset that I could not give Veronika a lead.” Sorina told Match TV afterwards.
“I tried not to get annoyed. I expected to run the stage better. The Germans were strong, they showed an achievement. Who expected the Germans to fight for medals.”
Sorina played her part for ROC. Tom Weller / VOIGT / DeFodi images via Getty Images
Despite the small disappointment, Sorina played more than her role when she lined up the ROC team in honor.
The Tver-born star – who gave birth to a daughter in March 2020 and is married to Russian skier and coach Egor Sorin – added the World Cup silver medal, which she took with the Russian team in Germany last year.
Veronika Stepanova
Last but certainly not least, the Russian youth Veronika Stepanova – a skier who has been a revelation since he came to the senior ranks.
Although she had a lot to do in an epic battle with the Germans for gold, Stepanova stormed home in her last leg on Saturday to give ROC a victory time of 53: 41.0 – 18.2 seconds ahead of the Germans.
Stepanova saw ROC home on the last leg. AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
Stepanova’s joy was unbridled as she crossed the finish line, and at just 21 years and 39 days old, she will be the youngest female Olympic champion in cross-country running ever, surpassing the previous record held by countrywoman and 1998 gold medalist Yulia Chepalova.
“On the second lap I already felt my strength, and the German lost ground. Every hint from the coaches was like new motivation. I like to decide everything before the finish line,” Stepanova told Match TV, revealing that the thoughts had come to the minds of all Russian youth who would be inspired by the team’s win.
The former junior world champion Stepanova has already become a force to be reckoned with in the senior ranks – and not just on the snow.
Stepanova is a popular social media presence who is not shy about sharing his opinions online – from take on Norwegian journalists for their claims that Russians should not be in Beijing, that ropar New York Times for “objectifying” female skiers.
Stepanova took to Instagram to celebrate the ROC win on Saturday and wrote: “For the country!”
After Stepanova brilliantly anchored the team to gold in Beijing, Russian fans can expect much more from their nation’s future ski star.
Gold girls: Russia’s ski stars. AP Photo / Gregory Bull
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk