Winter Olympics 2018: Svindal claims downhill gold

Pyeongchang, February 15: Aksel Lund Svindal claimed a second Winter Olympics gold medal in thrilling fashion, winning the men's downhill on Thursday (February 15).

The Norwegian edged out countryman Kjetil Jansrud by 0.12 seconds, while Switzerland's Beat Feuz (+0.18secs) was third.

Svindal, 35, added to the super-G gold he claimed in Vancouver in 2010, his latest success coming just over two years after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

He is the first Norwegian to win the men's downhill at the Games and became the oldest man to claim an Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing.

Competing at his fourth Games, Svindal was a silver medallist in the downhill in 2010 and finished fourth in Sochi.

Feuz, the downhill world champion, set the early marker in South Korea with a time of one minute, 40.43 seconds.

However, Svindal produced a spectacular finish – his times in intermediates four and five ranked second – to go top.

Jansrud appeared set to edge his compatriot, only to fall just short as Svindal's time proved to be enough.

Source: OPTA