Switzerland’s Dario Cologna confirmed his status as a complete cross-country skier when he won back-to-back 15-kilometres Olympic titles for Sochi Games double gold on Friday.
Sunday’s skiathlon winner Cologna rebounded from a mid-week sprint crash as he powered to victory in soft conditions on another mild day in 38 minutes 29.7 seconds.
The 50km world champion Johan Olsson of Sweden took silver, a massive 28.5 seconds behind in the interval-start race.
Compatriot Daniel Richardsson had a strong finish to pip Finland’s Iivo Niskanen for bronze by two tenths of a second, 38.8 seconds off the pace. Olsson and Richardsson also have gold medals from the 2010 relay.
Friday’s race was in classic style while Cologna’s 2010 gold over the distance was in freestyle.
The Swiss, who entered the season two weeks ago after ankle surgery in November, is the second Sochi double gold medallist, joining French biathlete Martin Fourcade.
