IAt the finish, the strength of the final runner Sofie Krehl gives way. Your legs can’t take it anymore. Her teammates hug her as she lies on the floor. It’s almost impossible to tell who’s who. Hugs, pick-ups, energize each other. Cheek to cheek, shoulder to shoulder.
The German cross-country skiers surprisingly won the silver medal in the Olympic 4×5 km relay in Zhangjiakou. The Russian Olympic Committee athlete ran after Krehl, urging her on. At first she was in front, but at some point she could no longer keep up with Veronika Stepanova. “From the second lap it got really tough for me,” says Krehl. She couldn’t have made it that many meters further.
With the fear in the neck ran on. “I knew I could do it,” she says after the race. The team screamed, their colleagues. But at that moment she was only with herself. “For me, that was never tangible before.” The last few meters to the medal, get everything out of your body: silver. Bronze went to the Swedes.
Start runner Katherine Sauerbrey, Katharina Hennig, Victoria Carl and Sofie Krehl finally finished 18.2 seconds behind the Russian Olympic Committee relay. Locker Krehl saved a two-and-a-half second lead, despite the Swede and the Russian Olympic Committee runner closing in. The favorite Norwegians only came in fifth.
For the German cross-country skiers, it was the first medal at the Winter Games since 2014. At that time, the women’s relay had won bronze. The runners were also surprised after the race. “I try to realize it,” says Sauerbrey. It was a really great race from everyone. In the end, everyone cheered. Will the anchor be able to keep it up? The pursuers came closer and closer. “It was enough and it’s just awesome,” says Sauerbrey.
A childhood dream has also come true for Victoria Karl. “I used to write in friendship books when I was a little kid. what are you dreaming about Answer: From an Olympic medal,” says Karl. “I’m so upset.” You will first sit down for a moment – and take a breath.
#Crosscountry #silver #Olympics #lap #hard