Dahlmeier wins fourth title with relay gold in Germany

HOCHFILZEN, Austria (Reuters) - Laura Dahlmeier won her fourth gold medal at the biathlon world championships when she led Germany to the 6x4-km relay title by holding off a late challenge from Ukraine and France on Friday.

(Reuters)

Dahlmeier was leading comfortably but missed the target twice in the final standing shooting to give France's Marie Dorin-Habert and Ukraine's Olena Pidhrushna gold medal hopes in the final kilometre.

The German, who had already won the pursuit, mixed relay and individual titles, held on to triumph with team mates Maren Hammerschmidt, Franziska Hildebrand and Vanessa Hinz.

Ukraine took second place, 6.4 seconds behind Germany, and France claimed the bronze, 8.1 seconds off the pace, after beating Gabriela Koukalova of the Czech Republic on the skis.

Dahlmeier, 23, will have the opportunity to clinch a fifth title - and a sixth medal, as she claimed silver in the sprint - when she takes part in the mass start on Sunday.

(Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Louise Ireland)