Source: Xinhua

02-25-2009 08:47

Special Report:   Harbin 24th Winter Universiade

MAOERSHAN, Northeast China, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian biathletes justified their dominance at the Harbin Winter Universiade again as they gained another two golds of sprint races here on Tuesday.

Gold medalist Artem Gusev (C) of Russia, Silver medalist Oleg Berezhnoy (L) of Ukraine and bronze medalist Jaroslav Soukup of Czech pose for group photos after the men's 10km sprint of biathlon at the Maoershan Ski Resort in Maoershan Town 85km southeast from Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 24, 2009. ((Xinhua Photo)
Gold medalist Artem Gusev (C) of Russia, Silver medalist Oleg 
Berezhnoy (L) of Ukraine and bronze medalist Jaroslav Soukup of 
Czech pose for group photos after the men's 10km sprint of 
biathlon at the Maoershan Ski Resort in Maoershan Town 85km 
southeast from Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang 
Province, Feb. 24, 2009. ((Xinhua Photo)

In the men's 10km-sprint, Artem Gusev showed his magic strength in the arena as the Russian won his second gold in a row with a perfect victory.

In the competition comprising 10km skiing and one round rifle shootings of 10 targets, Artem finished first in 25 minutes 44.6 seconds, missing no targets in both standing and prone positions.

After the race, the 26-year-old Russian was so excited to take off his clothes, letting his muscles exposed to the cheering crowds. It was his second gold after the ace skier won the 20-kilometer individual race last Saturday.

Following the Russian, Ukraine's Oleg Berezhnoy and Jaroslav Soukup of the Czech Republic took the silver and bronze respectively in 25:46.5 and 26:11.9.

On women's side, Nadezhda Chastina also took a convincing victory at the 7.5km-sprint race, awarding her delegation the fourth gold of biathlon at the Universiade.