Gold for Switzerland's Dario Cologna
Dario Cologna’s gold at the 15km freestyle cross country event at Vancouver 2010 was the first-ever Winter Games gold for Switzerland in cross country skiing event.
Cross-Country Skiing
Early appearances
Dario Cologna (born 11 March 1986 in Santa Maria Val Müstair, Switzerland) started cross country at 12 and debuted in the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Kuusamo in November 2006, and took his first points in January 2007.
World Cup success
During the 2007/08 season, Cologna finished in the top ten four times and placed 37th overall. In December 2008, he took his first World Cup podium finish with a second place in the 30km event in La Clusaz. He went on to win the Tour de Ski in January 2009, finishing the final event almost a minute ahead of runner-up Petter Northug. Cologna also finished overall winner in the 2008/09 World Cup.
Vancouver glory
Cologna won the 15km freestyle cross country event at his first-ever Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010. By doing so, he became the first Swiss to win a cross-country skiing gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games
Surprise victory
The pre-race favourites were Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic, silver medallist at Turin 2006, and Petter Northug of Norway, the most dominant cross-country skier during the season, but Cologna produced a great performance to win an unexpected and historic gold medal.