Cross Country Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games:

Finland had won the World Championship in this event in 2007 and 2009, with two different teams, although Virpi Kuitunen was on both teams. But they entered a different team here, with 2007 champion Riitta-Liisa Roponen joined by Riikka Sarajosa. There were two semi-finals, with nine teams in each, the top three teams in each qualifying for the final, joined by the four teams with the next fastest four times. Finland made it to the final, but barely, placing sixth in heat one, and would never figure in the medal race in the final. In the final, Sweden took the early lead, led by Charlotte Kalla. After four legs, Sweden and Germany were virtually tied, with Russia another 1.2 seconds back, as the medals were decided. Kalla tried to make a break on the penultimate leg of the event, but by the final exchange the Russian team had caught up with her, followed closely by the Germans. German Claudia Nystad then tried to take a commanding lead in the final leg, but Anna Haag (SWE) closed the gap with the Russians falling back. With neither Nystad nor Haag able to make a decisive move, it was down to a sprint to the finishing line to determine the gold and silver medals. Coming into the home straight Nystad was the one who pulled away to win by 0.6 seconds from Haag. Russia skied comfortably to the bronze medal, with Italy almost seven seconds back in fourth.