Winter Olympics 2022: Russian Alexander Bolshunov wins 3rd gold in 30K race

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Alexander Bolshunov sprinted to his third Olympic gold medal on Saturday in a 30-kilometer mass start cross-country ski race that was rescheduled and shortened because of strong wind and frigid temperatures.

The Russian was part of a five-man breakaway in the final kilometer. He pushed ahead on the final climb into the stadium, taking the title in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 32.7 seconds.

Russian teammate Ivan Yakimushkin crossed the line 5.5 seconds behind for silver, and Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway took bronze, 7 seconds behind.

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Russian athlete Alexander Bolshunov reacts as he nears the finish line during the men's weather-shortened 50km mass start free cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Bolshunov also won gold in the skiathlon and the relay at the Beijing Games. He took silver in the 15-kilometer classic ski race and bronze in the team sprint.

World Cup leader Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo fell off the back of the lead group about 33 minutes into the race and took his bib off and walked off the tracks with about 7.9 kilometers to go.

The start of the race, originally scheduled to be 50 kilometers, was delayed for an hour and the length was reduced because of the weather conditions. The temperature hovered around minus 18 degrees C (0 degrees F).

The International Ski Federation said the decision was made "in regards to the athletes safety to reduce the time of exposure of athletes in extreme conditions."

The brutal cold has taken a toll on the athletes. Most wore tape on their faces to protect against the wind