Candelier won the short distrance race by nearly 30 seconds as she crossed the line in the two kilometres race in 7min 53.15sec.

The Czech Republic's Katerina Husakova was second in 8:22.44 with South Africa's Bonang Modise third in 8:28.86. 

Candelier then tackled the long distance 5km course and was even more dominant, winning by more than three minutes in 21:53 as she improved on the silver medal she had claimed in 2014.

Another South Africa, Smangele Tembe, was second in 25:21 and Husakova third in 26:23.

Portugal’s Cristiano Pereira also doubled-up in the men’s, taking his first gold on the 4km course.

Pereira won in 12:31.09, beating the favourite, France’s Rashid Boutasghount, who finished second in 13:02.80.

Poland's defending champion Daniel Pek was third in 13:17.96. 

France took some consolation by winning the team event, courtesy of a combined performance from Boutasghount, Renaud Brelik and Quentin Foratier.

Pereira, Jose Azevedo and Paulo Benevente joined forces to seal the silver medal for Portugal. 

South African trio of Fathuwani Mushiana, Kamogelo Moncho and Reggie Segobaetso won the bronze medal. 

The same result in the short distance was then repeated on the 8km course.

Pereira won in 30:12 to finish ahead of Boutasghount in 30:28 in second and defending champion Pek third in 32:06,

The men’s team gold went to France, followed by Portugal and South Africa.