Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma came to the last standing stage of this morning’s Milan/Cortina Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit in second position, almost 40 seconds behind leader Emilien Jacquelin of France. Ponsiluoma, after seeing Jacquelin had two penalties, shot quickly and clean, moving into first, skiing to his first-ever Olympic medal in 31:11:19. Ponsiluoma, after starting seventh had his only penalty in the second prone stage. From that point, he cleaned both standing stages, setting up his stunning victory.

Victory, “Hard to believe”

Ponsiluoma’s victory today was just the third in his career. He also won the 2021 IBU World Championships Sprint title and took the 2022 Olympic Mass Start Silver medal. At the finish, he commented, “It’s hard to believe at the moment, but I am sure going to land with me and then I will enjoy it!”

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, with two penalties won the Bronze medal, 20.6 seconds back, his third individual medal of these Games after Bronze in the 20 km Individual and 10 km Sprint. Jacquelin after leading much of the competition had three penalties but won the Bronze medal, 29.7 seconds back.

France’s Eric Perrot, ninth at the start, finished fourth, with one penalty, 30.5 seconds back. Sprint Silver medalist Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, with three penalties, finished fifth, 44.8 seconds back while teammate Johannes Dale-Skjevdal finished sixth, 1:06.6 back.

Sunny Day

Sunshine returned for Pursuit Sunday after a snowy day on Saturday; the wind flags flapping a bit more than the previous days with a capacity crowd. Quentin Fillon Maillet led into the first prone, missing a shot as did Jacquelin and Christiansen. Jacquelin came off the loop first with the Sprint Gold medalist on his shoulder. Ponsiluoma moved to fourth after shooting clean.

Fast-shooting Jacquelin Takes lead

Jacquelin shot extremely fast in the second prone, cleaning easily; Fillon Maillet went to the penalty loop. Christiansen and Laegreid also were perfect, 12 and 23 seconds back, Ponsiluoma remained fourth, 37 seconds back.

The leader skied very aggressively into the first standing; he cleaned rapidly extending the lead to 24 seconds over the also-clean Ponsiluoma. Perrot went to 15-for-15, moving up to third. Laegreid and Christiansen after a penalty, fell to fourth, 45 seconds back.

Ponsiluoma Cleans Last Standing for Gold

Jacquelin shot fast again in the last standing, but two penalties were his undoing as fatigue settled in. Ponsiluoma cleaned quickly taking a 14-second lead with Laegreid jumping to third. By 10.6 km, Laegreid moved ahead of Jacquelin. Ponsiluoma continued to pull away to the Gold medal; Laegreid held on to the Silver spot and Jacquelin, despite fading retained the Bronze medal after a valiant effort. Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Ola Wizor, Nordic Focus