4 × 7.5 kilometres Relay, Men

Russia were the early leaders after the first leg, although many of the other teams were close behind. However by the end of the second leg, a small group – Norway, Austria, and Sweden had established a small lead ahead of the Czech Republic. It was on the third leg that Emil Hegle Svendsen for Norway and Dominik Landertinger for the Austrian team pulled away from the other teams and were just over 20 seconds ahead of third placed Russia. With the legendary Ole Einar Bjørndalen on the last leg for Norway, the Scandinavians were favourites to take the gold medal they had previously won in 2002. Although Bjørndalen missed two targets, his main opponent, Austria’s anchor man Christoph Sumann, missed four targets and fell behind after being forced to ski a penalty loop. In the end the Norwegian team won in a time of 1-21:38.1, with Bjørndalen claiming his 6th Olympic gold medal and his 11th medal in total. Yevgeny Ustyugov for Russia caught Sumann on the last leg, but in a sprint to the finish line, the Austrian just held on to take the silver medal from the Russians.

The Norwegian victors were a combination of youth and experience. Bø and Svendsen were in their early twenties whilst Bjørndalen, at 36, was still four years younger than team mate Halvard Hanevold.