It came on a busy day at the Alpensia Cross Country Centre in which qualifying and knock-out rounds took place.

Nilsson has had a superb season in the women's event and showed ominous form to win her semi-final against Norway's Maiken Caspersen Falla, the reigning world and defending Olympic champion.

It was more of the same in the final as Nilsson attacked early and had opened up a comfortable lead by the top of the first hill.

She duly stayed clear to win a first senior title at either Olympic or World Championship level.

It was Sweden's first success in the classic sprint event.

Nilsson won in 3min 3.80sec to finish 3.03 seconds clear of Falla.

The Norwegian won a sprint finish against Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR) Yulia Belorukova, who was third in 3:07.21.

It seemed at one stage as if OAR contender Alexander Bolshunov may do better as he took an early lead in the men's event.

But Klaebo then made a huge acceleration up the hill and had swiftly opened up a huge gap.

The Norwegian star finished in 3:05.75 as Federico Pellegrino of Italy snatched silver in 3:07.09.

Bolshunov held-on for third a further two hundredths back.