Beckie Scott is first North American to win an Olympic XC race

On Dec. 18, Canadian Beckie Scott got a gold medal -- nearly two years after the race.

From Ski Racing

When Beckie Scott finished skiing the women's 5km pursuit at the 2002 Winter Olympics, she was in third place -- good enough for bronze, the firest-ever medal awarded to a North American woman in cross country.

On Dec. 18, 2003, the Canadians' bronze turned to gold: A ruling by the Court of Sport Arbitration (CAS) ordered the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to elevate Scott's position when Russian skiers Olga Danilova and Larissa Lazutina lost their final challenge to penalties based on doping violations.

Danilova had already been disqualified from the 30km classic race because of her positive blood sample, but until the December ruling she had been able to claim the pursuit title. The gold medal now belongs to Scott, making her the first North American cross country skier to win an Olympic race. -- Mark Eller