OSLO, Norway -- Buoyed by two gold medals from the Sochi Olympics,
Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen says he will continue for two
more years and not retire this season as planned.
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Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before
Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and
inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at
last months Olympics.
The 40-year-old Norwegian says he will continue his career until the
2016 world championships in Oslo.
With 13 Olympic medals, including eight gold, Bjoerndalen is the most
decorated Winter Games athlete of all time.
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Not bad for a defenceman. The goal, that is. Although the shuffling
dance steps werent bad, either.
Barrie scored 55 seconds into overtime, Semyon Varlamov stopped 29
shots, and the Avalanche moved a step closer to their first playoff
berth in four years with a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on
Thursday night.
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The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this
season.
The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15
games with AHL Oklahoma City.MADRID, Spain -- Atletico Madrid brought
back Diego to strengthen its Spanish league title push, while Valencia
witnessed a series of arrivals and exits from the club as the January
transfer window closed on Friday.
Atletico signed the Brazilian midfielder on loan from Wolfsburg until
the end of the season. Diego previously played under coach Diego Simeone
during the 2011/12 season, helping Atletico win the Europa League title
that season.
Diego said he was overwhelmed by the return to Atletico as it bids for a
first league title since 1996, while also competing in the knockout
stages of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
"It was only a matter of time before Atletico got to where it is," Diego
said. "I had already seen the potential of this team and this club when
I was here before."
Diegos arrival meant midfielder Oliver Torres playing time was certain
to dip, so Atletico loaned the promising teenage talent to Villarreal.
With neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid making any last-ditch transfer
moves, Valencia took the spotlight as it looks to turn around a bitterly
disappointing season that has left it 17 points adrift of the Champions
League places.
The club unloaded a handful of underperforrming players -- including
Argentina midfielder Ever Banega -- and added several recruits,
including former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita.
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Valencia was active from Thursday when it signed Keita and striker
Eduardo Vargas from Napoli while loaning out forwards Dorlan Pablon,
Helder Postiga, and Andres Guardado.
On Friday, Valencia added Cruzeiro striker Vinicius Araujo to its attack
alongside Vargas after signing the Brazilian to a reported
five-year-deal.
Valencia also rid itself of a pair of underperforming midfielders as
Sergio Canales joined Real Sociedad in a reported 3.5 million euros
($4.7 million) deal. Banega, whose career at Valencia has been riddled
with problems, joined Newells Old Boys on loan until the end of the
current season.
Valencia also signed Swiss defender Philippe Senderos from Fulham, while
midfielder Ricardo Costas move to Turkish club Besiktas fell through,
however.
Rayo Vallecano signed Inter Milans Samule Longo, Granada landed
Brazilian striker Welliton from Spartak Moscow, and Levante signed
former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, a free agent, after
Valladolid balked. Valladolid instead signed former Barcelona winger
Jeffren Suarez from Sporting Lisbon.
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