Norway's Olympic debutant Botn shoots clean to win men's 20km biathlon individual

ANTERSELVA, Italy -- Norway's Olympic debutant Johan-Olav Botn won the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday, producing a flawless shooting performance to finish in 51 minutes and 31.5 seconds.

France's Eric Perrot took silver in 51 minutes and 46.3 seconds, while Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid got bronze in 52 minutes and 19.8 seconds.

A total of 89 athletes competed in the race. Cloudy skies, light winds and hard-packed tracks provided near-ideal conditions for the first individual biathlon event of the Games, which unfolded as a duel between Botn and Perrot.

Competing in his first Olympics, Botn was in contention from the opening loop. A key swing came in the second prone shooting, when the Norwegian hit all five targets to move ahead of Perrot, who recorded the only miss among the leading contenders at that stage.

Botn then maintained control, extending his advantage with steady skiing and continued shooting accuracy to seal the victory.

"I started 15 seconds behind Eric Perrot when he was on his second lap, and I felt like I was chasing him the entire race," Botn said. "I knew I was not in my best shape, so I had to perform at the shooting range and I did."

Perrot led after the first two shootings, but his single miss proved costly. The silver marked his second podium finish of the Games, following France's gold in the mixed relay on Sunday.

Laegreid missed one target and finished 48.3 seconds behind Botn to take bronze.

Finland's Olli Hiidensalo shot clean to finish fourth, 1 minute and 29.7 seconds back. Germany's Philipp Nawrath, with one penalty minute, placed fifth, 1 minute and 31.5 seconds behind the winner. Italy's Tommaso Giacomel, hampered by three shooting misses, finished sixth, 2 minutes and 27.5 seconds back.

The women's 15-kilometer individual biathlon is scheduled for Wednesday.