(ATR) Norwegian biathlon star Ole Einar Bjoerndalen couldn’t have asked for a more perfect 30 hours at these Winter Games.
Bjoerndalen and his Norwegian biathlon team-mates raced to gold in the Olympic debut of the mixed relay on Thursday afternoon at the Laura venue. The medal was the eighth Olympic gold and 13th in total of Bjoerndalen’s illustrious career.
The gold moved him one ahead of countryman Bjørn Daehlie to make him the most decorated athlete in Winter Games history.
"When you have a chance to beat Bjørn Daehlie, it’s a really amazing feeling," said Bjoerndalen after receiving his gold medal at the Sochi Olympic Park medals plaza.
"I’ve had a really fantastic Olympics with the first victory in the sprint and now to win something together with my team-mates and this history with the mixed relay – it’s more fun to win something together," Bjoerndalen said.
One day prior to his gold medal relay, the 39-year-old received news that he had been elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission by his fellow peers. Along with Canadian hockey veteran Hayley Wickenheiser – who also won a gold medal on Thursday – he will serve an eight-year term in the role.
"I hope I canimprove the connection between athletes and the IOC because the Olympics are nothing without athletes," Bjoerndalen said.
" I think they need to listen to the athletes, for sure they do it, but I think it could be better."
Bjoerndalen was the top vote-getter of the nine candidates vying for the two positions on the commission, with 1,087 votes. A record turnout was set by the Sochi athletes - 80.87 percent of the 2,871 eligible athletes voted.
Bjoerndalen emphasized that he would like to focus on stricter anti-doping policies and harsher punishments, while advising that he is planning to have his first meeting with IOC president Thomas Bach on Sunday.
Along with Tora Berger, Tiril Eckhoff and Emil Hegle Svendsen, Bjoerndalen and his fellow Norwegians were the first to receive gold medals in front of a sizeable crowd at the Olympic Medals Plaza.
Kicking off the evening with a DJ to get the crowd in the mood, the festivities began at 8:14 sharp.
On Sunday, Bjoerndalen and Wickenheiser will be presented to the IOC Session for membership. Pending approval, they will then be officially introduced at the closing ceremony of the Sochi Games.
Written by Brian Pinelli.
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