Medals update: Therese Johaug wins gold in cross-country skiathlon, the first medal of Beijing 2022

The first gold medal of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 has been awarded and it goes to Therese Johaug in the women's 7.5km + 7.5km skiathlon.

The Norwegian won in a time of 44:13.7 beating ROC’s Natalia Nepryaeva into silver medal position (44:43.9) with Austria’s Teresa Stadlober claiming bronze (44:44.2).

Johaug took the lead following the transition phase at the halfway mark following the 7.5km classic-style leg. After changing to freestyle skis, Johaug surged ahead opening up a 15-second lead in the space of 600m before going on to claim a first Olympic medal.

The fight was on though for the silver and bronze medals. Into the last kilometre and four athletes were in contention – Sweden’s Frida Karlsson, Austria’s Teresa Stadlober, ROC’s Natalia Nepryaeva and fast-closing American Jessie Diggins.

By the finish line, it was Nepryaeva who claimed silver just ahead of Stadlober who took the bronze, banishing the memory of PyeongChang 2018 in which she took a wrong turn with 2km to go and dropped from second to ninth place.

"It's amazing. I have no words. Four years ago, I was tied for a medal and then I made a mistake and I didn't get it," said Stadlober. "And I was working four years, and always had the dream to reach a medal. And now I have it and it's unbelievable for me."

Nepryaeva goes one better than her bronze medal from the Republic of Korea Games in which she came third with her teammates in the women's 4×5km relay.

"I'm pleased to get silver," said Nepryaeva. "It's my first time to produce a performance like this at the Olympic Games, and it gives me a lot of confidence for the races later this week. I feel very powerful now."

Finland's Kerttu Niskanen, who had a lovely family moment at the Tour de Ski in December winning gold on the same day as her brother Iivo who is also competing at Beijing 2022, finished fourth. Sweden's Frida Karlsson came fifth and Diggins ended up in sixth. Another medal favourite, Karlsson's compatriot Ebba Andersson finished 10th.

Defending champion Charlotte Kalla, a nine-time Olympian and three-time champion, came in 19th after preparations were hampered after complications caused from contracting COVID-19.

Dinigeer Yilamujiang who lit the cauldron at the Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony the night before alongside Nordic Combined athlete Zhao Jiawen finished in 43rd place.

Results

1  JOHAUG Therese (NOR) 44:13.7    
2  NEPRYAEVA Natalia (ROC) 44:43.9    
3  STADLOBER Teresa (AUT) 44:44.2     

For full results click here.

The next cross-country skiing event is Sunday 6 February with the men's edition, the 15km + 15km skiathlon at 15:00 Beijing time.