Greis

Bjoerndalen, who looked for much of the race like he was going to come in first at long last, crossed 12.3 seconds behind Greis.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

When Bjoerndalen missed two targets and Greis shot clean, the 29-year-old German became the first three-time gold medalist at the Winter Olympics.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

As Bjoerndalen circled the 150-meter penalty loop twice, Greis, who entered the final shooting stage in third place, shot past him to win the men's 15km mass start Saturday by 6.3 seconds ahead of silver medalist Tomasz Sikora of Poland, who missed one target on his final shoot.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

Michael Greis brought home his third Torino gold medal Saturday.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

CESANA (AP) Michael Greis skied into the final shooting stage still in Ole Einar Bjoerndalen's shadow.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

Inside scoop: Poiree beat Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Greis, the reigning world silver medalist, in the first 20K individual race of the World Cup season.

USATODAY.com - Showing mettle 2006

Michael Greis had a quiet Olympic debut in Salt Lake City four years ago, finishing 15th and 16th in two events.

USATODAY.com - Several 'dream teams' dominate Torino Games 2006

Greis will be the favorite in Vancouver now, and Bjoerndalen's performance will serve as a case study of what it's like to handle the pressure of defending one's cache of gold.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006

"It's incredible that I'm the most successful athlete of the games," Greis said.

USATODAY.com - Greis wins third biathlon gold; bronze for Bjoerndalen 2006