5 kilometres, Classical, Women

The race was skied in the classical style and was run in a driving snowstorm. It was won by Finnish skier Marjut Lukkarinen who was fourth at the first checkpoint, but finished quickly with the best final split to win the gold medal, although in a very close finish, as she won by only 0.9 seconds. The leader at 1.6 km was Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi-Hämäläinen, the 1984 champion who had won three individual gold medals in Sarajevo. But she collapsed in the final kilometers, posting only the 50th best final split, and finishing 31st. Lyubov Yegorova was second all-around, in second at 1.6 km and with the second best finishing time. She would win medals in all five events in Albertville, with golds in the 15 km, pursuit, and relay, and a silver in this event and the 30 km. At Lillehammer she would return to win four more medals and three more golds. She would compete again at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but with no medals, finishing her Olympic career with six golds and nine medals.