The Russian Olympic Committee team cross-country skiing champion Bolisshunov won the first gold of the winter Olympics

On February 6, in the cross-country skiing men's 15 km + 15 km double chase competition in the Zhangjiakou Gu poplar stadium group of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, the athlete of the Russian Olympic Committee team, Alexander Bolisshunov, finally won the championship in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 09 seconds 8 seconds, which was also the first gold medal won by the Russian Olympic Committee team at the Winter Olympic Games.

Alexander Bolisshunov (center) at the post-match press conference

At the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, Borisshunov won 4 medals – 3 silver and 1 bronze. Four years later, at the Beijing Olympics, he changed the color of the medals in his first event and won the gold medal. This feeling is indescribable, and he walked off the field for a while and could not believe that he had become an Olympic champion. "To be honest, a month ago I felt strongly that I could win the Beijing Winter Olympics. This morning, I still believe I can win. ”

Bolisshunov did not rush to the front immediately after the start, but after sliding 6 kilometers, he gradually showed great strength and competed fiercely with the Finnish runner Niskanin, who eventually won the bronze medal. After the first 15 kilometers of traditional technical races, Bolisshunov was even more convinced, "This is a great opportunity to win the championship, I must not miss it!" Driven by a strong conviction, Bolisshunov rushed to the finish line in the last 15 kilometers of free technical stage, "not affected by any personal emotions, to win my gold medal!" Bolisshunov said what he was thinking at the time. In the end, he got his wish and was the first to cross the finish line.

After the game, Bolisshunov thanked his father and enlightenment coach, the elder Bolisshunov. "My father was my role model, he could do anything." He said gratefully. It turned out that in order for him to practice skiing, his father used a tract to launch a piste for him to practice, and the father and son spent a lot of time there. At the same time, it was his father, Bolisshunov the Elder, who helped him build his dream of participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. "Throughout my sporting career, he has been giving me advice, help and guidance, and my achievements today depend on his selfless contributions." Bolisshunov said, "Today, I am able to become a hard-working, dedicated athlete, all thanks to him. ”

Borisshunov's teammate, another Russian athlete, Dennis Spitzov, won the silver medal. A total of 4 Chinese athletes participated in the competition, and Liu Rongsheng finished the race with a completion time of 1 hour 24 minutes 59 seconds 6 seconds, and he finished 38th. Shang Jincai finished 49th, Hades Badrihan 50th and Chen Degen 59th.