Winter Olympics: Norway top the medals table as Games powerhouse make strong start

Norway celebrated gold in biathlon and cross-country skiing on Saturday as the most successful nation in Winter Olympics history topped the medals table.

Hosts China also got in on the gold medal action, along with Slovenia, Netherlands and Sweden, but the United States had yet to secure a medal of any colour.

Norway's mixed relay team of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, Tiril Eckhoff, Tarjei Boe and Johannes Thingnes Boe edged out France and Russian Olympic Committee in a tight finish to the 4 x 6km event, finishing just 0.9 seconds clear.

Roeiseland said: "We did a great job, the whole team, and I'm so happy to race with such good team-mates. It's my first Olympic gold, so I'm super happy.

"It was so exciting to stand and see Johannes cross the finish line first. It was amazing."

Norway had been fifth after the third leg, but Johannes Thingnes Boe showed his prowess to guide the Norwegians into first place, in the event that combines cross-country and rifle shooting.

He said: "My feeling to anchor team Norway for gold, it doesn't get any bigger than this."

Norway's Therese Johaug had earlier won the first gold of the Games in the women's skiathlon, a 15km event.

Johaug was banned from the 2018 Games after a prior doping violation, but in Beijing she was an emphatic champion, finishing over half a minute ahead of Russian Olympic Committee's Natalia Nepryaeva and Austria's Teresa Stadlober, who took silver and bronze respectively.

China's golden moment arrived with success in the short track speed skating mixed team relay, narrowly beating Italy in the final.

Slovenia triumphed in women's ski jumping, Netherlands in women's speed skating and Sweden in men's freestyle skiing moguls.

05 Feb - Day First-ever #ShortTrackSkating Mixed Team Relay #gold medal for China The first #gold for China at Beijing 2022! Congratulations to Team China #Beijing2022 #Olympics #BingDwenDwen#TogetherForASharedFuture pic.twitter.com/kDQDg7Nf5K

— Beijing 2022 (@Beijing2022) February 5, 2022