Cologna finished after 1:08:15:4 after the 30km cross-country ski; pipping Hellner to the post by 0.4 of a second.
Moments after the race, the Olympic Games and FIS Cross Country tweeted photos of Cologna's victory as well as the medalists:
Sundby finished just 0.1 of a second ahead of fourth-placed Russian Maxim Vylegzhanin to take bronze for his country, as the chasing pack then fell by the wayside of the top-four.
However, controversy marred the finish, as Russia lodged an official protest, via R Sport, after claiming that Vylegzhanin was deliberately impeded on the final sprint, costing him the bronze medal.
International Ski Competition Rules forbid any racer from deviating from their racing line:
Rule 343.9 of its International Ski Competition Rules states that: "In all competitions obstruction is not allowed. This behavior is defined as deliberately impeding, blocking (by not following best line), charging or pushing any competitor with any part of the body or ski equipment."
2014 Winter Olympics Cross-Country Men's Skiathlon
Rank Competitor (Country) Time Behind
1 Dario COLOGNA (Switzerland) 1:08:15.4 0.0
2 Marcus HELLNER (Sweden) 1:08:15.8 +0.4
3 Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY (Norway) 1:08:16.8 +1.4
4 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN (Russia) 1:008:16.9 +1.5
5 Ilia CHERNOUSOV (Russia) 1:08:29.0 +13.6
6 Jean Marc GAILLARD (France) 1:08:29.8 +14.4
7 Daniel RICHARDSSON (Sweden) 1:08:31.7 +16.3
8 Johannes DUERR (Austria) 1:08:32.0 +16.6
9 Maurice MANIFICAT (France) 1:08:33.6 +18.2
10 Lars NELSON (Sweden) 1:08:37.7 +22.3
Sochi2014.com
The 68 riders started the cross-country ski at 2 p.m. in Sochi, in an event that sees long periods of distance skiing, while overcoming varied terrain as competitors race to the finish.
Swedish defending champion Hellner started the race alongside Cologna, who has missed part of the season with an ankle injury, with Britain's Callum Smith also on the starting grid.
And as the race wore on, it was clear that Cologna was the man to beat, as he went head-to-head with the Swede for the gold medal birth.
However, a moment of genius from the Swiss gave him breathing space from four fellow skiers at the top of the final uphill section, allowing him to pull clear of Hellner on the final straight to win just after an hour.
27-year-old Cologna was congraulated by Dr Boris Gojanovic, Head of Sports Medicine at the Swiss Olympic Medical Center after the race, tweeting:
Great Britain's Smith finished in 62nd place in the standings, with Australian Callum Watson just two places ahead of him.
Unfortunately for Team Korea, their competitor, Jun-Ho Hwang, was lapped during the race and finished last.
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