SHOCK START TO SKI-ING

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31599, 9 February 1968, Page 15

SHOCK START TO SKI-ING

(N.Z. PA.-Reuter—Copyright) GRENOBLE (France). F. Nones, aged 27, an Italian Customs officer, produced a shock opening to the Winter Olympics by beating the Nordic skiers at their own speciality.

The sturdy little Italian won the first gold medal of the Games in the gruelling Nordic 30-kilometre crosscountry, clocking Ihr 35min 39.25ec.

It was the first time any kind of Nordic ski-ing medal in the Olympics had been won by a skier from outside the Nordic countries or Russia. Nordic events have been part of the Winter Games since they were first staged in 1924. Nones began at a cracking pace in this most exhausting of Nordic sports, where much, of the going is flat or uphill and there is little chance to slide along.

With competitors setting off at 30sec intervals to race against the clock, Nones had the fastest time at the onethird and two-third distances. Many thought he would weaken in the final stages, but at the finish he had about 50sec to spare on O. Martinsen, of Norway, a forestry worker, who took the silver medal. The defending champion, E. Maentryanta, of Finland, the pre-race favourite, was third.