Hackl lunges to victory

NAGANO JAPAN, February 9: Germany's Georg Hackl steered his sled into the history books today, winning his third straight Olympic luge gol...

NAGANO JAPAN, February 9: Germany8217;s Georg Hackl steered his sled into the history books today, winning his third straight Olympic luge gold on a day when heavy snowfall again caused havoc with the Games8217; schedule.

The biggest casualty of the weather was Bjorn Daehlie, choosing the wrong wax for the fresh snow and seeing his search for Olympic history go astray in a winter storm during the 30-km cross-country race. The Norwegian star finished 20th in a race won by Finland8217;s Mika Myllylae.

Yekterina Dafovska won the 15-km biathlon, the first winter gold medal for Bulgaria.

Hackl finished fastest in all four runs over two days in the ice chute. Silver medalist Armin Zoeggler of Italy finished second, and Germany8217;s Jens Mueller earned bronze.

With his win, Hackl became the sixth member of an elite group of Winter Games athletes who have won gold at three games in a row, including figure skaters Sonia Henie of Norway and Irina Rodnina of the Soviet Union and speedskater Bonnie Blair of the UnitedStates.

In the medal standings, Germany took an early lead with three medals, including one gold and two bronze. Italy also has three two silvers and a bronze.

Norway8217;s Daehlie had been favored in the 30k cross-country to clinch an unprecedented sixth winter games8217; gold medal, but it was the Finn8217;s day. Daehlie8217;s slump was the second cross-country disappointment in as many days for Norway, the dominant force in Lillehammer four years ago. Norwegians finished 1-2 in the 30k race in Lillehammer. Norwegian women had hoped to sweep yesterday8217;s 15k race but only ended up with a bronze.

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Apart from Daehlie, the world8217;s no. one8217;s cross-country racer, Thomas Algaard, also disappointed Norwegian hopes, failing to finish the race.The biathlon victory by Bulgaria8217;s Dafovska was a big surprise.

Russian pair skaters Artur Dmitriev and Oksana Kazakova will go into tomorrow night8217;s free programme with a lead .They were one of only five couples among 20 to hit side-by-side triple jumps on a sloppy opening night.Fluwarning THE International Olympic Committee IOC today warned competitors in the Nagano Winter Games against a flu hitting this Japanese Alps region.

IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch had given advice to be cautious, IOC medical director Michele Verdier said. 8220;We should not sleep in too hot condition. Turn off your heaters. That was his recommmendations,8221;Verdier said.

IOC medical commission president Prince Alexandre de Merode, battling a cold, was absent from the daily meeting.