15 February,2010 10:55 AM IST | | AFP
Frenchman Vincent Jay seized his chance before the snow fell to confound later starters as he dashed to Olympic glory in the 10km sprint yesterday.
Svendsen, who missed one shooting target, took silver after crossing the line 12.2sec adrift with Croatian surprise package Jakov Fak grabbing bronze at 14sec.
Jay is a keen hunter at home and scented blood after receiving start number six in initially sunny conditions at Whistler Olympic Park. By the time the favourites started the sun had gone, snow was falling and the rain and the wind had turned the course into a different beast from the one Jay started out tackling. He acknowledged as much after landing a second win on the course following last year's maiden World Cup success at Whistler. "I had a slice of luck today with the weather conditions. But I did shoot 10 out of 10 targets, and I don't owe that to the conditions. That was me," said Jay, who acknowledged that different conditions might have helped five-time Norwegian champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who missed four targets in placing a dismal 17th
Bjoerndalen came here hoping to close in on compatriot cross country skier Bjorn Daehlie, who won eight Olympic crowns, but faced a blizzard later in the day.
