Sweden's Kalla storms to 10km cross-country freestyle gold

 SWEDEN'S Charlotte Kalla has blitzed her way to gold in the cross-country 10km freestyle race, edging out hot favourite Justyna Kowalczyk in Whistler Olympic Park.

GOLDEN GIRL: Sweden's Charlotte Kalla captures her first Olympic gold medal at Olympic Whistler Park in Vancouver (Getty Images)

The 22-year-old former world junior champion stormed home in 24:58.4 minutes, 6.6 seconds ahead of defending champion Kristina Smigun-Vaehi of Estonia.

"The track was really good. I thought I had control on the last downhill," said Kalla. "I got tired legs and wanted to go as fast as possible across the finish line and not relax until that."

Poland's Kowalczyk, who has been in scintillating form on the World Cup circuit this season, chalking up six World Cup titles, but the best she could muster was fifth place in 25.20.1.

It was Smigun-Vaehi who laid down an early formidable marker, bidding to become the first women in history to defend the Olympic crown, having topped the podium in Turin.

But Kalla, the form athlete of the World Cup circuit, having taken 10km freestyle victory in Canmore, Canada earlier this month, was in dominant form to collect her first Olympic title.

As others tired around her, Kalla's pace was relentless and she proved too strong for Smigun-Vaehi, while bronze went to Marit Bjoergen of Norway.

Kowalczyk, who has been critical of the Whistler course, labelling it too easy, continues to search for her first Olympic gold, but will be bidding to set the record straight in Wednesday's sprint classic.

In her first Olympic appearance, Great Britain's Fiona Hughes finished a respectable 68th out of the 78 competitors.

IN PICTURES: Switzerland's Dario Cologna strikes individual 15km freestyle gold

AS IT HAPPENS: Day four from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver