Finland’s Myllylae Pulls Off Surprise

HAKUBA, Japan —  They call him “Karpasi,” the man who lives in the woods and picks berries.

Now Mika Myllylae is an Olympic champion, thanks in part to his special high-altitude training and a strategic mistake by Norway’s Bjorn Dahlie, the best cross-country skier in the world, over his choice of ski wax.

Myllylae, a 28-year-old Finn and one of a team who benefit from the altitude training, powered to a spectacular victory in the 30-kilometer classical race Monday. He won by nearly a minute and a half over one of the toughest Olympic courses ever.

Meanwhile, Dahlie struggled with sticky skis and finished in 20th, 6 1/2 minutes behind.

“I felt very lonely out there in the woods,” said Dahlie, who needs one more gold medal to set a Winter Olympics record of six for men’s events. “I didn’t see any spectators and I was wondering if these were really the Olympics. We had a lot of problems with the skis. After about eight-nine kilometers, I realized I had the wrong pair.”

Norway’s Erling Jevne won his first Olympic medal, placing second, 1:31.3 behind. Silvio Fauner, a member of the Italian team that won the 1994 relay gold medal, won the bronze in 1:36:08.5. Fauner suffered a broken collarbone in a mountain-bike accident in September.

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Medalists

Cross-Country Skiing

Men’s 30-K

Gold: Mika Myllylae, Finland

Silver: Erling Jevne, Norway

Bronze: Silvio Fauner, Italy