Vancouver 2010: Cross-country skier Lukáš Bauer takes home bronze medal

Czech cross-country skier Lukáš Bauer won bronze in the men’s 15 km freestyle event at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Monday. Bauer finished 1.5 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Marcus Hellner in a dramatic head to head race over the last 700m.

The Czech will also be competing in this Saturday’s skiathlon event and in his strongest discipline, the 50 km classic, which will take place on February 28. Bauer had previously taken home silver in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. After Sunday’s gold for speed skater Martina Sáblíková, this Is the second medal for the Czech Republic at this year’s Olympics.