Cross-country fans couldn't ask for a better finish to the final women's race of these Games.
With the finish line in sight, it came down to the World Cup leader vs. the three-time gold medallist - the two best skiers and the two rivals.
In an amazing sprint to the line, Polan's Justyna Kowalczyk nudged ahead of Norway's Marit Bjoergen in a photo finish - just 0.3 seconds ahead of Bjoergen. Finland's Aino Kaisa Saarinen won the bronze medal.
Skiing in the final race of her illustrious Olympic career, Canmore, Alberta's Sara Renner finished in 16th place in a time of 1:34:04.2. The 2006 Olympic silver medallist in the women's Team Sprint and the first Canadian to win a World Championship medal in cross-country skiing, Renner has announced she will retire from the Olympics after this race to focus on her family.
It was a redemptive race for Kowalczyk, who earlier this week criticized Bjoergen for taking a banned substance. Bjoergen uses medication to combat athletically induced asthma, medication that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances. However, WADA has cleared Bjoergen to use the medication.
"She wouldn't have won without her medicine,' Kowalczyk is quoted on the Polish website Wirtualna Polska following Thursday's relay."Marit knows very well she wouldn't have much to show without her helpers, neither against me nor the other women."
With just a few kilometers to go, Bjoergen, dubbed the ‘Queen of Vancouver' for her three gold medals, appeared poised to tie Lydia Skoblikova's record of four golds in one Winter Olympic event. Kowalczyk, though, stayed with Bjoergen and pulled ahead as the two entered the stadium. Bjoergen made one last furious push, but Kowalczyk edged her boot across the line first.
With the win, Kowalczyk completed the Olympic collection - adding the gold to her silver in the sprint and bronze in the pursuit. With the silver, Bjoergen also completes the collection; aside from the three golds, she earned bronze in the 10km.
The other Canadian in the field, Madeleine Williams, finished in 46th place.
