Norway’s Marit Bjoergen won gold in the 30km cross country skiing on Sunday. It was the final competition of this Winter Olympics.
Though it was Bjoergen's 15th Olympic medal, the real story of the race was Austria's Teresa Stadlober.
Holding a strong second position in the race with 7km to go, Stadlober had what she later called a "blackout" and took a wrong turn. It cost her dearly as she dropped from the silver medal position to eventually finish ninth.
"I don’t know, I really don’t know," the 25-year-old told the Associated Press. "I took the wrong way — and I did this twice. The second time I wasn’t sure anymore. I had a blackout. I don’t know why I took the wrong way."
I’m really sad and disappointed that it has happened today because I had a really good day. My shape is good. I know in classic I can make a good race and I also had really good skis. Before I took the wrong way I thought I could fight for a medal.
At the finish line, Stadlober was greeted by her father. "I cried. He just said, ‘It was not your day today.’ But when you want to win a medal you have to know the track."
When you miss out on a medal at the #Olympics because you go the wrong way... #CrossCountrySkiing #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/c9c1KN81Oa
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) February 25, 2018
