Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen on Tuesday held off a desperate late charge from the fast-finishing Martin Fourcade of France to take gold in the men's 15-kilometer biathlon mass start after a photo finish.

The race, which had been repeatedly postponed due to bad weather, was run in swirling wet snow, which provided a suitable backdrop to the dramatic scenes.

Svendsen slowed up as he raised his hands in victory just before crossing the line but he had apparently failed to notice Fourcade, who flung himself across the finish.

Both were given the same time of 42 minutes 29.1 seconds but Svendsen, who will count himself lucky, was awarded the gold by a whisker on the photo.