CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: The first gold medal of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games was decided yesterday afternoon at Alpensia Cross Country Centre when Charlotte Kalla of Sweden claimed top spot on the podium in the Skiathlon.

Find out how our Aussie women went here>>>

Callum Watson waved the flag for Australia in the men's event but what exactly is Skiathlon?

Cross country skiing features two different techniques - Classical and Freestyle.

The Classical technique sees athletes move one ski directly forward while the other one remains stationary, moving forward in a gliding motion. The event is completed on tracks etched a couple of inches into the snow (see example below).

The Freestyle technique sees athletes ski with their skis on a wider angle as they push forward, similar to the motion in ice skating. When athletes climb hills this angle becomes wider (see example below).

The Skiathlon is the only event where athletes compete in both techniques.

In the men's event athletes ski 15km Classical and then head into a transition zone to change their skis, much like a triathlon transition. 

They then ski 15km in the Freestyle technique.

The event is a Mass Start so the first across the line will claim the gold medal.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au