VANCOUVER, Canada — Estonian cross-country skier Kristina Šmigun-Vähi claimed her country’s first medal at Vancouver 2010 on Monday.

Competing in the women’s 10 km free cross-country skiing event, Šmigun-Vähi’s time of 25:05.0 was enough to see the Estonian claim the silver medal. Unfortunately she was not able to repeat her feats from Turin four years prior where she was able to claim the gold, but she should not be too disheartened, when one considers she came out of retirement to [private_supervisor]participate in this latest installment of the Winter Olympics.

Šmigun-Vähi put in a scorching run, and it looked for all money that she had claimed the gold, with nearly the whole field having completed their runs and proving unable to even get close to matching her time. However, the blow was handed to her as the last of the serious contenders crossed the finish line, with Dane Charlotte Kalla bettering her time by 6.6 seconds. Over nine seconds back from Šmigun-Vähi was Norwegian Marit Bjoergen who claimed the bronze.

Talking to Postimees following the race Šmigun-Vähi noted that silver was nice but everyone knew how much she want the gold, before adding, “there was no place to take a breath today, the track was fast. I felt myself like a rabbit.”

The silver medal performance will now see Šmigun-Vähi framed as one of Estonia’s most successful Olympic athletes of all time, in both the Summer and Winter versions of the games.

At the same location later in the day, the Estonian men were unable to match the feats of their country-woman, finishing well down in the men’s 15km field. Of particular concern was the performance of Aivar Rehemma who finished back in a disappointing 51st. Such a low finish for the outside medal chance, led commentators to suggest that he may well have received gear damage whilst out on the course.

Rehemma expressed disappointment after the race.

“I was hoping to make it the best ride of the season but it came out the worst. I don’t know why it went that way, I have to sit down and think. The skis weren’t bad, but the feeling was not so good,” Rehemma told the press.

— Baltic Reports reporter Kai Joost contributed to this article. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]participate in this latest installment of the Winter Olympics.

Šmigun-Vähi put in a scorching run, and it looked for all money that she had claimed the gold, with nearly the whole field having completed their runs and proving unable to even get close to matching her time. However, the blow was handed to her as the last of the serious contenders crossed the finish line, with Dane Charlotte Kalla bettering her time by 6.6 seconds. Over nine seconds back from Šmigun-Vähi was Norwegian Marit Bjoergen who claimed the bronze.

Talking to Postimees following the race Šmigun-Vähi noted that silver was nice but everyone knew how much she want the gold, before adding, “there was no place to take a breath today, the track was fast. I felt myself like a rabbit.”

The silver medal performance will now see Šmigun-Vähi framed as one of Estonia’s most successful Olympic athletes of all time, in both the Summer and Winter versions of the games.

At the same location later in the day, the Estonian men were unable to match the feats of their country-woman, finishing well down in the men’s 15km field. Of particular concern was the performance of Aivar Rehemma who finished back in a disappointing 51st. Such a low finish for the outside medal chance, led commentators to suggest that he may well have received gear damage whilst out on the course.

Rehemma expressed disappointment after the race.

“I was hoping to make it the best ride of the season but it came out the worst. I don’t know why it went that way, I have to sit down and think. The skis weren’t bad, but the feeling was not so good,” Rehemma told the press.

— Baltic Reports reporter Kai Joost contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]participate in this latest installment of the Winter Olympics.

Šmigun-Vähi put in a scorching run, and it looked for all money that she had claimed the gold, with nearly the whole field having completed their runs and proving unable to even get close to matching her time. However, the blow was handed to her as the last of the serious contenders crossed the finish line, with Dane Charlotte Kalla bettering her time by 6.6 seconds. Over nine seconds back from Šmigun-Vähi was Norwegian Marit Bjoergen who claimed the bronze.

Talking to Postimees following the race Šmigun-Vähi noted that silver was nice but everyone knew how much she want the gold, before adding, “there was no place to take a breath today, the track was fast. I felt myself like a rabbit.”

The silver medal performance will now see Šmigun-Vähi framed as one of Estonia’s most successful Olympic athletes of all time, in both the Summer and Winter versions of the games.

At the same location later in the day, the Estonian men were unable to match the feats of their country-woman, finishing well down in the men’s 15km field. Of particular concern was the performance of Aivar Rehemma who finished back in a disappointing 51st. Such a low finish for the outside medal chance, led commentators to suggest that he may well have received gear damage whilst out on the course.

Rehemma expressed disappointment after the race.

“I was hoping to make it the best ride of the season but it came out the worst. I don’t know why it went that way, I have to sit down and think. The skis weren’t bad, but the feeling was not so good,” Rehemma told the press.

— Baltic Reports reporter Kai Joost contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]participate in this latest installment of the Winter Olympics.

Šmigun-Vähi put in a scorching run, and it looked for all money that she had claimed the gold, with nearly the whole field having completed their runs and proving unable to even get close to matching her time. However, the blow was handed to her as the last of the serious contenders crossed the finish line, with Dane Charlotte Kalla bettering her time by 6.6 seconds. Over nine seconds back from Šmigun-Vähi was Norwegian Marit Bjoergen who claimed the bronze.

Talking to Postimees following the race Šmigun-Vähi noted that silver was nice but everyone knew how much she want the gold, before adding, “there was no place to take a breath today, the track was fast. I felt myself like a rabbit.”

The silver medal performance will now see Šmigun-Vähi framed as one of Estonia’s most successful Olympic athletes of all time, in both the Summer and Winter versions of the games.

At the same location later in the day, the Estonian men were unable to match the feats of their country-woman, finishing well down in the men’s 15km field. Of particular concern was the performance of Aivar Rehemma who finished back in a disappointing 51st. Such a low finish for the outside medal chance, led commentators to suggest that he may well have received gear damage whilst out on the course.

Rehemma expressed disappointment after the race.

“I was hoping to make it the best ride of the season but it came out the worst. I don’t know why it went that way, I have to sit down and think. The skis weren’t bad, but the feeling was not so good,” Rehemma told the press.

— Baltic Reports reporter Kai Joost contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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