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A classic Spain's Muehlegg wins 50km classical goldPosted: Saturday February 23, 2002 2:52 PMUpdated: Saturday February 23, 2002 6:34 PM
MIDWAY, Utah (AP) -- After failing and then passing a blood test, Spain's Johann Muehlegg staged a strong comeback over the final 10 kilometers of the 50K classic-style race Saturday, winning his third gold medal by overtaking Russia's Mikhail Ivanov. Muehlegg, who became a Spanish citizen in 1999 after he had a falling out with the German ski federation, lunged across the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 5.9 seconds. Ivanov, who led the staggered-start race most of the way, was 14.9 seconds slower. Estonia's Andrus Veerpalu won the bronze, 38.6 seconds back. Veerpalu won the gold earlier in the 15K classic race. "It was the most difficult race of my life," Muehlegg said. "I was sure the last five kilometers would be the decisive section. I never dreamed when I came to Salt Lake City that I would win three gold medals." Muehlegg was among 13 athletes selected at random before the race to be tested for high levels of hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells that can increase endurance. Muehlegg's first test showed a hemoglobin level of above the limit of 17.5. Five minutes later, Muehlegg was tested again, and this time he was under the threshold, and he started the race as scheduled. Neither blood test reading was disclosed. "The blood was going up, but finally it was not a problem," Muehlegg said after his victory. On Thursday, Russian cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina was not allowed to take part in the relay race because her pre-race blood test showed a hemoglobin level of 16.8, over the women's limit of 16.0. Like Muehlegg, Lazutina was allowed to have a second test, but she was still over the limit. "Lazutina's levels were much higher than Muehlegg's," Bengtsson said. The tests were administered about an hour before the race, and since teams are not allowed to add an alternate within two hours of the start, the Russians -- four-time defending gold medalists - had to withdraw. The incident prompted Russian officials to allege unfair treatment of their athletes in several sports. An initial threat to leave the games before Sunday's closing ceremony later was withdrawn. Officials still are awaiting the results of a urine test for Lazutina to determine whether she took any banned substances. One such substance, the hormone erythropoietin, or EPO, can artificially raise hemoglobin. Athletes are supervised between blood tests, but they can lower their hemoglobin levels naturally by drinking fluids, or by simply slowing down their heart rate. "When you are a little too high, and you relax a little bit, it can be a little lower," said Bengt Erik Bengtsson, the Nordic director for the International Ski Federation. Asked why the second test showed different levels than the first, Muehlegg responded, "I don't know if the machine is not working well." But Bengtsson said the device was in order. "There was absolutely nothing wrong with the machine," Bengtsson said. Muehlegg, who also won gold in the 30K freestyle and 10K pursuit, said a change in diet over the last few days, combined with a bout of diarrhea on Friday night that left him dehydrated, might have contributed to his initial high blood levels. A switch from proteins to carbohydrates three days before the race gave him enough energy to catch Ivanov, who led the staggered-start race most of the way, Muehlegg said. Regarded by as the sport's showcase event, the 50K was set up as a coronation for Muehlegg. He started slowly and began to fall farther behind. By the 33.4K mark, Ivanov's lead had grown to nearly 39 seconds. Muehlegg had a sudden burst of energy, though, getting within 16.4 seconds with 9.5 kilometers to go. Ivanov simply couldn't match Muehlegg's finishing strength. "Muehlegg sped up dramatically after the first two laps. And on the upper loop it was so wet that the track was almost like water. My skis were prepared perfectly for the first two laps. The last lap when the skis were not doing so well I had to fight with myself to keep up." This time, Muehlegg didn't have the energy to wave the Spanish flag. "Now I am feeling very tired. I' not sure I will be able to celebrate these gold medals," he said. Veerpalu said he had never raced a more difficult race. "It was a very tough race and these 50 kilometers was the toughest I have ever raced. I started a little slower to keep some energy for the end," the Estonian said. Norway completed a frustrating 15 days at Soldier Hollow. Three Norwegians were expected to challenge Muehlegg for the gold, but the best they could do was fourth, by Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset. Norway won four of the five cross-country races in Nagano but has just two golds in six cross country events at these Games: the relay and the new, up-for-grabs sprint. Sweden also flopped, failing to win a single Olympic medal for the first time in history. Overall World Cup Per Elofsson, Sweden's biggest hope in the 50K, finished a distant 18th. "I had the wrong wax," he said. "It was OK in the beginning, but it disappeared quickly. Then I found it hard to get motivated. "I'll have to forget the Olympics and all negative things as soon as possible." Before these Games, Spain had won just two medals at the Winter Games, and its last gold was Francisco Fernandez Ochoa's 1972 slalom victory. Ochoa has denounced Muehlegg as a "mercenary," but Muehlegg
has proclaimed his loyalty to his adoptive country.
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