Dario Cologna of Switzerland won the men's 15km cross-country skiing here on Monday at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Cologna finished the course in 33 minutes and 36.3 seconds for the gold medal. Pietro Piller Cottrer from Italy placed second with 24.6 seconds behind.
"It was an incredible race for me. I had a very good feeling from the start. I am so happy. I didn't believe that I could win the 15 km," said Cologne after the competition.
Switzerland's Dario Cologna celebrates during the flower ceremony after winning gold in the men's 15 km individual start cross-country final at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in Whistler, British Columbia February 15, 2010
"I was going here to get the gold. Getting Silver behind such a great athlete (Cologna) is gold for me. To jump on the podium means that my programme was excellent," said the silver medallist Piller Cottrer.
Lukas Bauer from the Czech Republic finished in 34 minutes and 12.0 seconds for the bronze medal.
Switzerland's Dario Cologna (C), Italy's Pietro Piller Cottrer and the Czech Republic's Lukas Bauer (R) pose on the winners' podium during the flower ceremony after winning the men's 15 km individual start cross-country final at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in Whistler, British Columbia February 15, 2010. Cologna won gold, Piller Cottrer won silver and Bauer won bronze.