Chad Hedrick celebrates after winning 5,000 meters race

An American speed skater and two Germans have captured the first gold medals of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Chad Hedrick of the United States won the men's 5,000-meters long track speed skating gold in six minutes, 14.68 seconds.

Sven Kramer of the Netherlands took the silver medal (6:16.40). Italian Enrico Fabris gave his countrymen something to celebrate by taking the bronze (6:18.25).

Earlier, Germany's Michael Greis was the surprise winner in the men's 20-kilometer biathlon, finishing in 54 minutes, 23 seconds with one shooting miss.

Norway's Ole Einar Bjorndalen won the silver, 16 seconds back with compatriot Halvard Hanevold, taking the bronze (53:31.9). Both Norwegians had two shooting misses.

In the Nordic combined event, Georg Hettich of Germany took gold ahead of Austrian Felix Gottwald while Norwegian Magnus Moan took the bronze medal.

Hettich won the ski jumping portion and finished the 15-kilometer cross-country portion in 39 minutes, 44.6 seconds. Gottwald was nine-point-eight seconds behind the winner with Moan third, 16-point-two seconds off the winner.

The 16 days of competition continue later Saturday, with medals awarded in women's freestyle skiing moguls. The pairs figure skating short program, men's luge, and women's ice hockey are also on the schedule.