Poland’s Kowalczyk wins XC ski marathon in Norway
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
17.03.2019 23:50
Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk has won the 54-kilometre Birkebeinerrennet cross-country ski marathon in Norway.
Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk celebrates at the finish line. Photo: Twitter/Justyna Kowalczyk@JuiceKowalczyk
The Pole, a double Olympic champion and a two-time world champion, was the fastest woman in the classic-technique race on Saturday.
Kowalczyk, 36, finished the marathon in 2 hours, 51 minutes, 31.6 seconds, 2:41.3 ahead of second-placed Britta Johansson Norgren of Norway.
Astrid Øyre Slind of Norway was the third-fastest woman, finishing 4:23.3 behind the Polish skier.
Meanwhile, Petter Eliassen of Norway was the fastest man and won the marathon overall, clocking in at 2:23:47.7.
The marathon took place from Rena, a small town in eastern Norway, to the ski resort of Lillehammer and marked the third time Kowalczyk triumphed after she won the Birkebeinerrennet last year and in 2017.
The race has been held annually since 1932, and commemorates a journey made by knights to save the infant pretender to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206.
All competitors must carry a backpack weighing 3.5 kg, symbolising the weight of the then-infant king.
Earlier this month, Kowalczyk was the fastest woman in Poland's 50 km classic Bieg Piastów cross-country skiing marathon, ahead of the Czech Republic’s Adela Boudikova and another Czech, Klara Moravcova.
Kowalczyk last year became assistant coach of the Polish women's cross-country skiing team.
(gs/pk)
Source: TVP Sport, Polskie Radio