Dario Cologna streaked away in the gruelling 15km freestyle cross-country skiing on Friday at the Pyeongchang Olympics to win his fourth gold medal -- as topless Tongan Pita Taufatofua avoided the wooden spoon.

The peerless Swiss Cologna came home more than 18 seconds ahead of Norway's Simen Hegstad Krueger, who took silver from the Russian Denis Spitsov.

It was Cologna's fourth Olympic cross-country gold medal in all, stretching back to his first at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

At the other end of the race, the popular Taufatofua -- famed for appearing at the freezing opening ceremony with his chest exposed to the elements -- finished in 114th place.

Last, two spots farther back, was the Mexican German Madrazo, who completed the race to loud cheers from the crowd while proudly brandishing a large Mexican flag.