Johan-Olav Botn of Norway won gold in the biathlon men's 20km individual on Tuesday after storming through the final lap and shooting clean.
Eric Perrot of France finished second, 14.8 seconds behind, and Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway finished third. Botn was able to keep his cool at the range and hit all 20 of his shots. In the last lap, Botn had a burst of power that helped him pass Perrot, who received a penalty for missing a shot.
“Yes Sivert, we did it!” Botn exclaimed after he crossed the line in honor of his late friend, biathlon athlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken.
For Botn, the last loop of the race was emotional, he said because it felt like he was racing with Bakken.
"I hope he was watching, and I hope he is proud of what I was doing," Botn said.
Perrot, who was on the gold mixed relay team, missed his first standing shot and left an opening for Botn to make the pass. Laegreid hit 19 of 20 shots for a time that was 48.3 seconds behind Botn.
"It was a crazy day and a crazy fight, and I just gave it my all," Perrot said. "No regrets, I gave it my all. I’m proud about that. Johan was just better than me today, so congratulations to him."
"Luckily I managed to turn the tables on the last shoot, and with amazing skis from the team, and (my) good shape, I was able to win bronze," Laegreid said.
Sharing the news on Instagram, the International Biathlon Union wrote that Botn claimed gold after a perfect race.
"What a performance by Johan-Olav Botn on the track and at the shooting range after this incredible and incredibly difficult season," the International Biathlon Union wrote in part.
American Campbell Wright finished in 27th place.
In the 20km individual race, athletes ski five 4km laps and stop four times to shoot in the prone and standing positions. Each missed shot results in a one-minute penalty lap.
France and Norway were also on the podium at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Quentin Fillon Maillet of France won gold, and Johannes Thingnes Boe won Bronze behind Anton Smolski of Belarus.
Reuters contributed to this report.