KRASNAYA POLYANA — Germany's Eric Frenzel kept clear of the pack to take gold in the men's Nordic combined normal hill/10-kilometer event at the Sochi Olympics on Wednesday.
Frenzel, who started the cross-country skiing stage in the lead after winning the opening ski jump, won by 4.2 seconds from Akito Watabe, who becomes the first Japanese athlete in 20 years to win a Nordic combined medal.
That chasing pack engaged in a sprint finish for the bronze, a race won by Norway's Magnus Krog, who crossed the finish line 8.1 seconds behind Frenzel.
Nordic combined brings together ski jumping and cross-country skiing, with athletes earning time advantages in the skiing if they score higher in the jumping. The winner is the first athlete across the line in the skiing stage.
It is the last remaining men-only sport in the Winter Olympics. The large hill event is Tuesday, with the team competition two days later.
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