France

Fourcade Edges Out Schempp in Photo Finish in 15km Mass Start

His win in Sunday’s mass start makes him France’s first four-time Olympic gold medalist

Martin Fourcade overcame two missed targets and a tumble after his first penalty loop to beat German’s Simon Schempp in a dramatic photo finish to win the men’s 15km mass start Sunday at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre in Pyeongchang.

The Frenchman captured his first gold medal in the mass start after grabbing silver in each of the past two Winter Olympics.

Most Americans haven’t heard of him, but Fourcade is one of the most decorated athletes in French history. His win in Sunday’s mass start makes him France’s first four-time Olympic gold medalist.

Fourcade won the 12.5km pursuit event earlier this week. He also won two gold medals at the Sochi games in 2014.

Both Fourcade and Schempp finished the race in 35 minutes, 47.3 seconds but Fourcade got the nod in the photo. Schempp missed one of his targets in his final shooting, which cost him the gold.

Fourcade hit 18 of his 20 targets but skied fast enough to overcome his self-inflicted mistakes.

Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen took home the bronze medal, finishing 11.2 seconds behind Fourcade and Schempp.

Norwegian biathlete Johannes Thingness Boe, who won gold in the individual and was one of the favorites entering the mass start, counted himself out with three missed target in his second shooting bout.

Boe finished in 16th. He was 17 of 20 in his shooting bouts and finished the event in 37 minutes, 7.3 seconds.

No Americans qualified for the mass start.

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