PRAGELATO PLAN, Italy, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Kristina Smigun of Estonia, claiming her second gold medal at the Turin Winter Olympic Games in the women's 10km classical event of cross countryskiing, expects her third one of the same tint.

    Smigun was eighth at the 2.6km intermediate times, second at 6.2km, had the lead at 7.7km, and then extended her position in front in the tough grueling final kilometers of the course.

    Winning by 21.3 seconds ahead of Marit Bjorgen of Norway, Smigun triumphed in the event. Hilde G. Pedersen, also from Norway, clinched the bronze, 1.3 seconds behind Bjorgen.

    Thus, Smigun became the first athlete to win two gold medals in Turin.

    Smigun, 29, who won her first Olympic gold in the women's 15km pursuit on February 12.

    The Estonian, who was only seventh in the 30km classical and 15km free in the Salt Lake City Winter Games four years ago, was extremely happy about the result.

    "I'm happy. Extremely happy. I have to go home, think about what I did and then I will know how I feel," said Smigun.

    "It's the beginning of the season and I feel quite good. We dideverything correct and perfect. I do hard, hard training," Smigun added.

    Not until the end did Smigun realize that she has won the race.

    "At the last uphill I knew that Marit (Bjorgen) was first for only two seconds and I tried to push very hard. I was tired but I think everyone else was more tired than me."

    On the race, she tipped it very tough.

    "But it was the same for everyone."

    "I was extremely good in the last uphill. I wasn't so sure thatI could be so strong. I couldn't feel my legs in the last lap but at a certain point I tried to think that I was tired."

    "It was my day. My skis are good and the team is great," she added, "Today I didn't feel any pressure. I was very relaxed although the track is difficult and the competition was tough."

    "I think 1.5 million people will celebrate for me."

    Smigun once won a gold and two silvers at the World Championships in 2003, but at the Worlds in Oberstdorf, Germany in2005, she failed to make the podium, which made her change her approach and skiing style in the Olympic season.

    Therefore, unlike usually competing on the World Cup circuit, Smigun took a vacation in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt in November 2005 and skipped more races in January 2006 to concentrate on the Olympics.

    Now, the Turin Games witnessed the rejuvenation of Smigun.

    Smigun was once at the center of controversy as in December 2001, she tested positive for an anabolic steroid following a World Cup race in Italy. But a second sample came up negative. TheWorld Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound later said the first lab that tested her sample made a mistake and didn't realize she was a woman. She was then cleared to compete in the Salt Lake CityGames.

    Now, with two golds in pocket, Smigun hopes for a third one. "Apart from the gold I'm wearing, I would like one medal in one pocket and another one in the other pocket. It's possible for me to win another gold medal." Enditem