Lee posted 53 minutes, 39 seconds in the race held on Feb. 8 (Korea time) at the cross-country stadium in Tesero, Italy.
The skiathlon combines two cross-country techniques: classic and freestyle. Athletes race the first half in classic style, then switch to freestyle at the midpoint.
Competing in his first Olympics, Lee had aimed for a top-50 finish but fell short. He did, however, complete the race without being lapped and eliminated under the event’s lap rule.
Klaebo won in 46:11, finishing 7 minutes, 28 seconds ahead of Lee. After taking three gold medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and two golds at the 2022 Beijing Games, he opened this Olympics by adding another title.
Klaebo stayed near the front early, slipped to fourth in the middle stages, then surged late to secure the win.
Biathlon great Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and cross-country standouts Bjoern Daehlie and Marit Bjoergen each have eight career Olympic gold medals; Klaebo would tie them with two more.
Mathis Desloges of France took silver in 46:13, and Norway’s Martin Loewstroem Nyenget won bronze in 46:13.1.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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