Early crash disrupts US favorite Jessie Diggins in race for skiathlon gold

• World No 1 claws back for eighth in difficult conditions

• Sweden storms to one-two finish over 20km distance

• Diggins has five more events at farewell Olympics

Jessie Diggins's farewell Olympics began with a crash and a scramble on Saturday, the trailblazing star of American cross-country skiing fighting back to finish eighth in the women's skiathlon as Sweden delivered a commanding one-two in the first cross-country skiing race of the Milano Cortina Games.

Frida Karlsson powered to gold ahead of teammate Ebba Andersson, with Norway's Heidi Weng taking bronze, as the first Olympic women's skiathlon contested over the new 20km distance quickly turned into a test of endurance, conditions and survival.