Oftebro claims second Nordic combined gold at Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

TESERO, Italy -- Norway's Jens Luraas Oftebro captured his second Nordic combined gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games on Tuesday, triumphing in the large hill ski jump and 10-kilometer cross-country race.

Oftebro, who also won the normal hill event earlier in the Games, crossed the finish line with great ease in 24 minutes 45 seconds, followed by Austria's Johannes Lamparter in 24:50.9. Finland's Ilkka Herola secured the bronze in 24:59.8.

"It means a lot to win my second gold medal. I had dreamed about one, but to win two is something very special," Oftebro said.

The 25-year-old Norwegian said he did not expect to win this gold.

"My dream was to win the one gold (in normal hill). To do it again on the large hill, with huge gaps, is an amazing feeling for me," he said.

The competition opened with a single ski jump, where athletes received distance and style points that were converted into time advantages for the afternoon cross-country race. Competitors then began the 10-kilometer pursuit staggered according to their jump results.

Japan's Ryota Yamamoto led after the jump, taking an eight-second advantage over Lamparter into the race. Norway's Andreas Skoglund started 16 seconds behind the leader.

Oftebro began the race in fifth place, 22 seconds off the pace. Herola set off 32 seconds back in seventh.