5 kilometres, Women

Defending Olympic Champion Raisa Smetanina, reigning World Champion Berit Aunli and the new Olympic Champion at 10 km three days earlier, Marja-Liisa Hämälainen, were the favorites. Hämälainen, starting half a minute behind Smetanina, almost caught the Russian skier by the halfway point, taking a 2.7 second lead over the bronze medalist from 1980, Czech Květa Jeriová, the Norwegians Aunli and Brit Pettersen following closely behind, with Smetanina back in a disappointing ninth position. Hämälainen soon passed Smetanina out on the track and quickly left the defending champion behind. She secured her second gold medal ten seconds ahead of Aunli, who also finished strongly and moved Jeriová down to third, a new bronze medal for the 27-year-old from Liberec. Sweden’s Marie Risby, starting in her third Winter Olympics, made her best ever Olympic result by placing fourth, followed by three Norwegian skiers. As in the 10 km race, Norway had all their four skiers among the top seven.