Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 10 kilometre freestyle
Estonia's Kristina Šmigun-Vähi was the defending Olympic champion in this event though it was held in the classical style.[2] Aino-Kaisa Saarinen on Finland was the defending world champion though that event was also held in the classical style.[3] The final World Cup event in women's 10 km freestyle prior to the 2010 Games took place on February 5 at Canmore, Alberta and was won by Sweden's Charlotte Kalla.[4] Šmigun-Vähi won silver in this event, Saarinen would finish 15th, and Kalla would win gold.[5] Kalla is the Sweden's first female individual gold medalist in cross-country skiing since Toini Gustafsson's 5 km win at Grenoble in 1968.