Ferry wins men's 12.5 km pursuit Olympic biathlon gold

Sweden's Bjorn Ferry jubilates after the men's 12.5km pursuit of biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada, Feb. 16, 2010. Bjorn Ferry won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Chen Kai)

Sweden's Bjorn Ferry competes during the men's 12.5km pursuit of biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada, Feb. 16, 2010. Bjorn Ferry won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Chen Kai)

Skiers compete during the men's 12.5km pursuit of biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada, Feb. 16, 2010. Sweden's Bjorn Ferry won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Chen Kai)

China's Zhang Chengye acts during the men's 12.5km pursuit of biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada, Feb. 16, 2010. (Xinhua/Chen Kai)

WHISTLER, Canada, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bjorn Ferry of Sweden claimed the gold medal of the men's 12.5 km pursuit of biathlon at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Sweden finished first in 33 minutes 38.4 seconds, 16.5 seconds faster than Christoph Sumann of Austria, who won the silver.

"It was a great ski day today, and all my competitors, 40 to 50 of them, were good today. This is more of a mental game and I was mentally prepared for this one," said Ferry after his competition.

"It's a great medal, it's a great feeling. I am 31 and I've waited for this my whole life," he added.

"One less penalty, I would have received the gold. I had a good race, weather was good. I was actually happy that it wasn't snowing today," said Sumann.

Vincent Jay of France, champion of the men's 10 km sprint of biathlon, came in third with 28.2 seconds behind.

The Norwegian veteran Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who earned nine medals in winter Olympics, finished in 7th place with 51.4 seconds behind.

"It was really close today, and I should have made the gold," lamented Bjoerndalen.