Alexander Bolshunov of Russia wins the gold in the men’s skiathlon.

Alexander Bolshunov of the Russian Olympic Committee dominated the field to win the gold medal in men’s skiathlon, beating the field in the 30-kilometer race by more than one minute.

Bowing on his skis as he neared the finish and picking up a Russian Olympic Committee flag to carry across the line, Bolshunov finished with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes 9.8 seconds. His teammate Denis Spitsov of Russia took the silver, 1 minute 11 seconds behind Bolshunov, and livo Niskanen of Finland won the bronze, more than two minutes behind the winner. One of the prerace favorites, Johannes Klaebo of Norway, was never in contention.

The two medals, including the first gold by a Russian athlete, temporarily pushed the Russian Olympic Committee team into first place in the overall medals table. Russia, the country, cannot compete under its own name and flag at the Games because it remains banned from world sports as a result of a state-sponsored doping scandal. Russian athletes, however, are still allowed to take part.

The first half of Sunday’s grueling race was skied in the so-called classic style, in which skiers look as if they are walking, with their skis remaining in a straight line. The second half was skied in the faster, more modern freestyle, in which skiers use motions similar to skating.

Klaebo’s uphill performances made him a breakout star at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and prompted the Norwegian news media to nickname a steep hill on a course there the Klaebo bakken (or Klaebo hill).

Klaebo, 25, won three gold medals at those Games. He went on to win the World Cups in cross-country skiing in 2018 and 2019, and was widely expected to contend for as many as six gold medals in Beijing.

Bolshunov won three silvers and a bronze at the 2018 Winter Olympics.