Michael Greis, left shoots during Men's Biathlon event

Germany's Michael Greis has won Olympic gold in the men's 15-kilometer mass-start biathlon Saturday at the 2006 Turin Winter Games in Italy.

Greis made the five circuits of the three-kilometer San Sicario course in 47:20 minutes for his third gold medal of the Turin Games. Greis missed just one of 20 targets.

The 29-year-old won his first Olympic medal on the first day of competition, taking gold in the men's individual 20-kilometer event, and then claimed gold as a member of the four-man, 7.5 kilometer relay team.

Poland's Tomasz Sikora (47:26.3) completed Saturday's race 6.3 seconds behind Greis for the silver medal. Former Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjorndalen of Norway (47:32.3) finished a disappointing third for the bronze medal, 1.6 seconds behind Sikora.

Bjorndalen won four biathlon gold medals at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Norwegian superstar also won the 2004 world championships in all four events, and is the reigning World Cup champion. He was heavily favored to win multiple gold medals at the Turin Games.

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting at targets in both the prone and standing positions. Competitors must ski a penalty loop for each missed target.