Alexander Bolshunov, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, won silver, and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo of Norway became the bronze medalist.

The defending champion was Dario Cologna, who won this distance three times in a row (in 2010, 2014, and 2018), as well as 30k skiathlon in 2014.

The silver medalist Simen Hegstad Krüger qualified for the Olympics but tested positive for COVID just before the games and was not able to start.

Hans Christer Holund was the 2021 World Champion in 15 km freestyle.

Klæbo started the first of the three eventual medalists, but Niskanen was 37.5 seconds faster.