Super Neumannova

Neumannova crossed the line in a time of one hour, 22 minutes and 25.4 seconds, 1.4 seconds ahead of Tchepalova. Kowalczyk sprinted over the line 2.1 seconds off the pace.

"I still cannot believe what happened today," said the newly-crowned Olympic champion.

"When I was on the top of the last climb I thought I must try to do something because today was my last Olympic race.

"It is like a dream and I do not want to wake up. I wanted Olympic gold for so long."

Despite Tchepalova leading for the majority of the race and setting the leg-burning tempo, it was 22-year old Kowalczyk who split up the leading group with a blistering injection of pace, 1.5km to the line.

Only a handful of skiers could follow which eventually broke down to four athletes chasing three medals.

Kristin Stormer Steira of Norway struggled with the intense pace set by the young Pole and soon fell of the back leaving the front three to battle it out for the medals.

Kowalczyk carried on with the high tempo all the way up the last climb of the day and looked to be heading to her first Olympic gold medal, but Neumannova had other ideas.

On the final stretch into the stadium and down to the line Neumannova impressed all with an explosive last 100 metres. From third place the Czech overtook Tchepalova and Kowalczyk - who were by this time shoulder to shoulder - to power it all the way home by a good two metres.

"The Pole, Kowalczyk, looked really strong in the last kilometre," admitted NeumannovaTchepalova and Kowalczyk were left to battle it out for the remaining medals and battle it out they did.

"I was feeling really tired and I did not believe that I would have some power left for the finish, but my skis were working very well today. I found some power in the final straight, I do not know what happened because normally, my finish is not so good."

It was a great display of sprinting power with both women giving it their all.

Kowalczyk was leading the show with 50 metres to the line but the Russian found a second wind edging herself into the lead to finally cross the line for the silver medal.

The Pole put in a very solid race, Kowalczyk never left the leading bunch and was brave enough to attack the group completely destroying the front of the field, it was a thoroughly deserved bronze medal.

Estonian hopes of another gold to add to the medals tally disappeared when the struggling Kristina Smigun fell off the back of the bunch and could not keep up with the Kowalczyk's attack.

Smigun eventually crossed the line in 8th place.

Kristin Stormer Steira's Olympic misery continued as she once again she crossed the line in fourth place - the worst place to finish, some would say.

Unfortunately for Steira and Norway it was the third time she had bagged the undesirable fourth place adding to the 10km and double pursuit.