Domracheva finally tops World Cup podium in Finland

BELARUS' Darya Domracheva finally struck her first career biathlon World Cup victory for the 7.5km sprint event in Kontiolahti, Finland.

FINALLY ON TOP: Belarus' Darya Domracheva scores her first World Cup win after five podium finishes over the past two seasons (Getty Images)

The 23-year old has come so close in the past, collecting four fourth places, four bronzes and a silver medal over the past two seasons.

But Domracheva, who scooped 15km individual bronze on her Olympic debut in Vancouver last month, finally found her way to the top of the podium in Finland as she shot clean to finish in 21:17.5 minutes.

Russia's triple world champion Olga Zaitseva threatened the Belarussian's time, coming out of the standing shoot just a second slower.

But the 31-year old faded in the final ski and settled for silver, 8.4 seconds back.

Meanwhile, Germany's Kati Wilhelm put her Winter Olympic nightmare behind her to collect bronze.

After slumping to just a relay bronze in Vancouver, the 33-year old announced she would retire from the sport at the end of the season.

And with the pressure now off, Wilhelm looked a reformed competitor, shooting clean before racing across the line 13.5 down on Domracheva.

Double Olympic champion Magdalena Neuner finished fifth in Finland to establish a ten point lead in the World Cup rankings over Sweden's Helena Jonsson, who came ninth.

Great Britain's Adele Walker and Amanda Lightfoot finished 68th and 69th respectively, 3:49 down on the Belarussian.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ivan Tcherezov claimed his fifth career World Cup victory in the men's 10km sprint in Kontiolahti.

The 29-year old claimed the second of his World Cup wins on the Finland course three years ago, and impressed again in Finland to shoot clean and take gold in 24:42.4 minutes.

Norway's Olympic 20km individual champion Emil Hegle Svendsen finished 6.8 seconds back in second while France's Martin Fourcade was another 23.3 behind in third.

And Svendsen's silver propelled the 24-year old into top spot in the World Cup standings on 614 with Austria's Christoph Sumann second on 604 and Russia's Evgeny Ustyugov third on 583.