"I expected to get bronze but I was lucky enough to win the race," said the delighted winner afterwards.

"Today it was not easy for me, athletes from Ukraine are very strong and my skis were not waxed well.

"Besides, I am not a sprinter, this is not my favorite discipline, but I decided to participate in it and won!

"I didn't feel enough strength, but the support of fans on the stadium helped me very much.

"This is my ninth gold medal, so now I have a new goal ahead - to win my 10th medal."

The same two countries dominated the podium in the men's event, with Groshev overcoming Ukrainian pair Pavlo Mandziuk and Volodymyr Pyshniak.

Blair Esson of the United States tasted victory today in snowboarding, while there was Japanese success in the corresponding woman's event ©Ugra 2015



Elsewhere, Ryoko Hanashima of Japan triumphed in the halfpipe snowboarding competition, while Blair Esson of United States won ahead of brother Sean in the men's event.

On the first day of Alpine skiing action, Switzerland's Philipp Steiner and Czech Republic's Tereza Kmochova secured victories in the respective male and female downhill events.

Away from the medals, there was a third consecutive victory for Canada in ice hockey with a regulation 7-1 win over Finland, while Canada's men and Russia's women lead as round-robin action continued in curling. 

More medals will be won tomorrow on the slopes, with male and female super combined Alpine events as well as the cross country team sprint.