Norway's Therese Johaug celebrates after winning the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, Feb 5, 2022. (MU YU / XINHUA)

CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou - Vancouver 2010 Olympic gold medalist Therese Johaug of Norway claimed women's 7.5km + 7.5km skiathlon of cross-country skiing victory, winning the opening gold medal of Beijing 2022 Olympic winter games here on Saturday.

Johaug, who missed the PyeongChang 2018 due to a doping ban, finished with 44 minutes 13.7 seconds. Natalia Nepryaeva from the Russian Olympic Committee grabbed silver with 44:43.9. Teresa Stadlober of Austria took the bronze medal with 44:44.2.

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China's Li Xin finished 33rd in 49:07.7.

Norway's Therese Johaug celebrates after winning the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, Feb 5, 2022. (XIAO YIJIU / XINHUA)

Norway's Therese Johaug celebrates during the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, Feb 5, 2022. (LIU CHAN / XINHUA)

Norway's Therese Johaug celebrates after winning the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, Feb 5, 2022. (XIAO YIJIU / XINHUA)