Frida Karlsson of Sweden kicked off the Milano Cortina Olympics with an impressive victory in the women's 10 + 10 km ski relay, finishing with a time of 53:45.2 and leading the race by a significant margin of 51 seconds over her teammate, Ebba Andersson. After a strong start, Karlsson quickly distanced herself from her competitors, including Norway's Astrid Öyre Slind, which set the tone for a commanding performance throughout the race.

This victory marks the first Olympic gold medal for the 26-year-old Karlsson, who had previously finished fifth in the same event four years ago in Beijing but secured a bronze in the women's relay team event at that Olympics. Karlsson's win at these Olympic Games also contributes to her impressive record, adding to her two silver medals from World Championships in the same discipline. Her performance has not only elevated her status in the sport but also serves to inspire the next generation of athletes.

In the race, Andersson secured a silver medal, with Norway's Heidi Weng taking the bronze. The top contenders included Nadja Kälin from Switzerland, Kerttu Niskanen from Finland, and Slind, who rounded out the top six. Meanwhile, Kaidy Kaasiku and Keidy Kaasiku from Estonia finished in 43rd and 47th places, respectively, illustrating the highly competitive nature of the event and the challenge faced by all participants.