Charlotte Kalla wins first gold medal of Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

Charlotte Kalla of Sweden won the first gold medal of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang with victory in the women's 15-kilometre skiathlon.

Kalla won the race by more than seven seconds, breaking away from the pack in the final two kilometres to avenge her loss to Marit Bjoergen at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Norwegian Bjoergen took silver in the event to become the most decorated female Winter Olympian ever.

Bjoergen captured her 11th career medal, breaking a three-way tie with Raisa Smetanina of Russia and Stefania Belmondo of Italy.

But 37-year-old Bjoergen, who won three gold medals in Vancouver in 2010 and three more in Sochi, proved she's still a dominant figure in the sport despite entering the competition ranked seventh in the world in the event.

Krista Parmakowski of Finland was third and Jessica Diggins finished fifth, missing a chance to become the first American woman to earn a medal in cross-country skiing.