Already a silver medallist in the Alpine combined and bronze medallist in the giant slalom, Shkanova clocked an overall time of 1min 32.57sec at the Shymbulak Ski Resort to beat nearest challenger Monica Huebner of Germany by 0.10 seconds and claim gold.

Huebner led after the first run, with a 0.38-second advantage over Shkanova, but could only manage the sixth-best second run and ultimately had to settle for a repeat of her 2015 silver medal-winning performance. 

Shkanova was the fourth quickest in the second run, posting 47.16 to add to her time of 45.41 in the first.

Rounding out the podium was Sweden’s Louise Jansson, who clocked the fastest second-run time of 46.93 for an overall result of 1:32.80.

Japan’s Asa Ando, the women’s giant slalom gold medallist, came fourth in 1:32.91 - 0.03 seconds in front of Sweden’s Lisa Hiltula in fifth.

Finland’s Nea Luukko was third after the first run but ended up sixth, in 1:33.56, after a disappointing second.

Alpine skiing action is due to conclude tomorrow with the men’s slalom event.