10 kilometres (Freestyle), Women

Slovenia’s Petra Majdič had won the sprint World Cup in 2007-08 and 2008-09, but did not compete in this event in Vancouver. Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk was leading the sprint World Cup coming into Vancouver. Also considered contenders were the 2009 World Champion, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (FIN), and runner-up in that event, Marianna Longa of Italy. Kristina Šmigun-Vähi (EST) also returned, and was aiming to become the first woman to successfully defend her Olympic title and, for a while, it looked as though she would be successful, coming home in a time of 25:05.0. However Charlotte Kalla (SWE) came through to defeat Šmigun-Vähi by 6.6 seconds. Kalla had won three gold medals at the Junior World Championships in 2006 and 2007, and in 2009, had won a bronze medal with the Swedish relay team at the World Championships. Third place went to Marit Bjørgen (NOR) while Kowalczyk could only finish 5th. Saarinen and Longa never contended, placing 15th and 18th, respectively.