Record-breaking Domracheva storms to third Sochi gold

SOCHI, Russia: Darya Domracheva of Belarus on Monday again outclassed all her biathlon rivals to take her third gold medal at the Sochi Games, becoming the most successful athlete at these Olympics and in the history of her country.

Domracheva, who already took gold in the women´s pursuit and individual competitions at Sochi 2014, is the first female biathlete in history to win three golds at the same Games.

She was barely challenged from start of the 12.5km mass start and had time at the end to twirl a ski pole around her head in a now characteristic celebration.

She showed nerves of steel after missing one target on her final standing shoot but managed to knock down the final target to assure herself of the gold.

The Belarussian finished in 35 min 25.6sec, 20.2sec ahead of Gabriela Soukalova of the Czech Republic who took the silver medal. Bronze went to Tiril Eckhoff of Norway in 35min 52.9sec.

The hopes of one of the pre-race favourites, Tora Berger of Norway, were ended when she crashed on the first downhill of the event and she finished 15th.

A similar mishap put paid to Russia´s biggest hope, Olga Zaitseva, who finished 24th on another dark day at the shooting range for the home nation.

Heavy morning fog, which has forced the postponement of the men´s race to Tuesday, lifted by the afternoon and the women had decent conditions, although some of the corners remained treacherous in the wet snow.

Domracheva’s latest victory makes her the greatest Belarussian Olympian of all time in Winter or Summer Games with her three gold medals.

She was previously tied on two gold medals with Belarussian rowing star Ekaterina Karsten. She is also now the first athlete in Sochi to win three golds.

Along with Germany´s Kati Wilhelm, she is also the only female biathlete in history to have three gold medals at Winter Games.

The record for the most golds won by any female athlete at a Winter Games is held by Soviet speedskater Lidia Skoblikova who won four golds at the 1964 Innsbruck Games.

Domracheva´s success at these Games has caused huge debate in Russia, given that although born in Minsk she was brought up in Siberia and made her first junior international appearances for Russia. (AFP)