Norway's Bjoergen becomes most successful Winter Olympian

Norway's Marit Bjoergen celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony after taking the second place in the women's 7.5km + 7.5km cross-country skiathlon event at the Alpensia cross country ski centre during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 10, 2018 in Pyeongchang. PHOTO | JAVIER SORIANO |

What you need to know:

  • Bjoergen, 37, is also the second most successful woman at either the Summer or Winter Games, trailing only Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina who compiled 18 medals.
  • Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins celebrated ecstatically as they edged Sweden by 0.19sec to win the first Olympic cross country title for the United States.

PYEONGCHANG

Norway's Marit Bjoergen became the most successful athlete in Winter Olympics history on Wednesday as she took bronze behind a stunning win for USA in cross country skiing's women's team sprint free.

Bjoergen's bronze with Maiken Caspersen Falla put her on 14 Olympic medals, outstripping fellow Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen who has 13 in biathlon.

Bjoergen, 37, is also the second most successful woman at either the Summer or Winter Games, trailing only Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina who compiled 18 medals.

Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins celebrated ecstatically as they edged Sweden by 0.19sec to win the first Olympic cross country title for the United States.

Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won the men's title by 1.71sec ahead of the Olympic Athletes from Russia, with France finishing third.