The 27-year-old, who earned three podium finishes at one of the two World Cups held in Oberhof earlier this month, completed the 15 kilometres course in a time of 42min 29.3sec to take gold.

A single penalty did not prevent Hauser from securing a long-awaited victory as she finished 43.7sec clear of nearest challenger Yulia Dzhima of Ukraine, the only athlete in the field to shoot clean.

Anais Chevalier-Bouchet of France did enough for third but ended the race over a minute slower than Hauser, who had never finished in the top three at a World Cup before the recent event in Oberhof.

"Somehow, I am crying a little bit because of happiness," said Hauser. 

"I do not know what to say. 

"It is just unbelievable. 

"You know you train the whole summer long to achieve a goal and the goal is to somehow win a World Cup for the first time and today it happened. 

"I am a little bit speechless; it is history and everything. 

"It is a really big achievement today and a dream come true."

Norway's Marte Olsbu Røiseland remains the overall women's World Cup leader on 589 points, six ahead of compatriot Tiril Eckhoff in second.

The event is scheduled to continue with the men's individual race tomorrow.