Norway’s Marit Bjorgen started what could be a big Sochi Olympics for her with a victory this morning in the women’s skiathlon, earning the fourth Olympic gold of her storied career.
The win, along with a bronze-medal effort from Heidi Weng (pictured, right, with Bjorgen), also provided a moment of joy for a team in mourning. The brother of one of Bjorgen’s teammates, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, sadly passed away on Friday.
MORE: U.S. women’s bobsled pairings announced
All four of Norway’s skiers today – Bjorgen, Weng, Therese Johaug (4th place), and Kristin Stoermer Steira (23rd place) – wore black armbands.
Reuters reports that Jacobsen thanked her teammates on Twitter for the gesture, calling them “[her] strength through thick and thin.”
Our sympathy and condolences go out to Jacobsen and her family at this time.
