CROSS COUNTRY: Norway's cross-country skiing superstar Marit Bjoergen won the first cross-country skiing gold of the Sochi Olympic Winter Games in the women's skiathlon.

Under stunning blue skies at the Laura cross-country ski centre, Bjoergen won the second gold up for grabs at Sochi 2014 ahead of Sweden's Charlotte Kalla. Heidi Weng of Norway took the bronze.

The skiathlon is a combination of 7.5 kilometres classic style immediately followed by 7.5km freestyle skating, with the competitors rapidly changing skis for the different styles in a changeover area during the race.

Bjoergen, 33, now has a total of four Olympic golds after winning three golds at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

There were no Australians in the field for this event, but Australia's biggest ever Cross Country contingent will be in action shortly >>