NEWS FEATURE Even silver is good enough for modest Bjoergen to break records By John Bagratuni, dpa

Marit Bjoergen earned skiathlon silver to get a woman‘s Olympic record 11th medal. She was happy despite missing gold and can still complete her Games career is the most successful Winter Olympian of all time.Pyeongchang, South Korea (dpa) - Marit Bjoergen had to settle for silver at the start of her last Olympic campaign but that was enough to make her the most decorated woman at the snow and ice Games.And the Norwegian cross-country ski queen can still leave Pyeongchang as the most successful Winter Olympian overall.But the 37-year-old remained modest after the 15-kilometre skiathlon, saying she was happy for Swedish winner Charlotte Kalla and not looking at the big picture yet."It‘s my last Olympics, I have to focus to have a good race. After the Olympics I can look back and see how many medals I have," Bjoergen said.The silver brought her haul to 6-4-1, the 11th medal moving her ahead of Russian/Soviet Raisa Smetanina and Italy‘s Stefania Belmondo, and just behind all-time leading compatriots Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (8-4-1) and Bjoern Daehlie (8-4-0).Bjoergen will have at least three more chances, in the 10km, 30km and relay, at the Alpensia ski centre where she rounds off a career which has also seen her win a record 18 world titles as she ruled the sport for more than a decade.But, after giving birth to son Marius two years ago, looking at her age and the fact that she competes a little less in the World Cup, success doesn‘t come as easily as in the past."I am not disappointed. The season hasn‘t been so good, it was up and down. The fight for medals is not that easy. I have many medals but I am getting older and the younger [skiers] are getting better. I am very happy with silver," she said."I did the same schedule before Sochi [2014 where she won three golds]. It has been good for me. Things are different now. I am a mum, I am 37 years old. It is not good for me to do every race. I don‘t need so many races."Bjoergen trained together with Kalla in the Pyeongchang run-up and admitted she found no answer her attack on the first uphill of the final lap - partly because another skier was between them when the Swede made her move."I think it was interesting for her to train with me. Charlotte is a very good friend and I am happy for here. She has been the strongest this year," Bjoergen said.But despite all Bjoergen was the best Norwegian on the day as Heidi Weng had to settle for ninth, Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was 11th and Ragnhild Haga placed 15th in what was an almost poor showing by their standards for the leading women‘s nation in the sport.