Cross Country Skiing
Historic appointment for Iivo Niskanen’s gold‑medal coach Olli Ohtonen
December 19, 2025 / Yle
Olli Ohtonen, former coach of triple Olympic champion Iivo Niskanen, is set to become Finland’s first working life professor in the ski sports, pending final approvals at the University of Jyväskylä’s Vuokatti unit. The appointment recognizes his role in bringing cutting‑edge sport science to elite snow sports, including data‑driven equipment and conditions work that aided Finland’s success at the 2022 Olympics. Olympic Committee figures and university leadership hail the move as a major step in strengthening the academic backbone of Finnish winter sports.
Myhlback named to Sweden’s largest-ever Tour de Ski squad; Sundling to skip the event
December 18, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Sweden will send a record 19 skiers to the 2024–25 Tour de Ski, according to national team boss Anders Byström. Nineteen‑year‑old Alvar Myhlback, recently confirmed for the 2026 Olympics, is selected to gain racing across multiple stages, while sprint star Jonna Sundling will sit out. The Tour runs 28 December in Toblach through 6 January in Val di Fiemme, ending with the iconic Final Climb.
COVID case reshapes Krista Pärmäkoski’s plans — she will start the Tour de Ski
December 18, 2025 / Yle
After testing positive for COVID upon arriving in Davos, Finland’s Krista Pärmäkoski switched to a backup plan and moved training to Levi. Feeling recovered, she now intends to start the Tour de Ski, deciding stage-by-stage based on how her body responds. Pärmäkoski says she’s confident in her form after a top‑10 in Ruka and notes her race skis are already with the team truck.
Jonna Sundling left out of Sweden's Tour de Ski team — full squad named
December 18, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden has announced its 19-person team for the 2025/26 Tour de Ski. Sprint star Jonna Sundling is notably absent from the selections; the list includes several debutants such as 19-year-old Alvar Myhlback and others who have earned World Cup starts through Smart Energy Cup and Scandinavian Cup results.
Math reveals it: Alvar Myhlback will race the Tour de Ski
December 17, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Sweden will name a 19‑athlete squad for the Tour de Ski, and based on that roster size it can be deduced that 18‑year‑old Alvar Myhlback is included, a detail first reported by Viaplay. National team boss Anders Byström confirmed the unusually large team size, and expert Hanna Falk says racing on the Olympic course and doing his own analysis would be valuable for Myhlback.
Cross-country ace Friedrich Moch is “slowed down” by coaches for a training pause
December 17, 2025 / Sportschau (ARD)
Germany’s top cross-country skier Friedrich Moch has struggled at the start of the Olympic season after last year’s breakthrough. Head coach Peter Schlickenrieder says Moch likely overtrained and will now follow a reduced program and recovery block to be ready for the Tour de Ski starting December 28 in Toblach. The near-term goal is health and Olympic qualification benchmarks rather than results, with Moch aiming to rebound after finishes outside the top 10, including 18th in Ruka’s 20 km mass start.
Myhlback not keen on the Olympic 50 km: “Not good enough”
December 17, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Sweden’s Alvar Myhlback, already named to the 2026 Olympic team, says he does not plan to race the men’s 50 km despite competing primarily in long‑distance marathons. The 19‑year‑old believes the classic 50 km demands a technique and preparation he hasn’t trained for, and says sprint may actually suit his long‑distance training better.
Hanna Falk before Olympic selection: “They should already get their Olympic tickets”
December 16, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Former Swedish national team sprinter and current Radiosporten expert Hanna Falk reacts to Johanna Hagström’s difficult World Cup weekend and her emotional interview about the pressure of an Olympic year. Falk says she is deeply moved, empathizes with Hagström, and urges Sweden’s team leadership to name their 2026 Olympic cross‑country squad early so athletes can prepare in peace. The piece highlights the selection pressure on Swedish sprinters in the lead‑up to Milano‑Cortina 2026.
Sweden’s 19-year-old cross-country sensation selected for the Olympics — a U-turn from last spring
December 16, 2025 / Yle
Sweden has named more athletes to its Olympic cross‑country team, including 19‑year‑old Alvar Myhlback, who earlier prioritized Ski Classics and downplayed an Olympic push. The article recounts Myhlback’s rapid rise from winning Vasaloppet at 18 to taking his first World Cup podium in Trondheim, and explains why his selection has stirred debate in Sweden. Additional Swedish selections include Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist, Moa Ilar, Johanna Hagström, Emma Ribom and Anton Grahn, while earlier picks featured Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, Jonna Sundling, William Poromaa and Edvin Anger.
Myhlback selected for the Olympics: “I may not have been completely honest”
December 16, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Sweden’s 19‑year‑old cross‑country skier Alvar Myhlback has been named to the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic team, despite having said his main focus this season is the Ski Classics long‑distance series. The Swedish Olympic Committee also confirmed additional selections in cross‑country, biathlon, ski jumping, skicross and other sports; Sweden’s eight women’s cross‑country quota spots are now filled with Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist, Moa Ilar, Johanna Hagström and Emma Ribom joining previously selected Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling. The article lists other newly named Olympians including Frida Westman (ski jumping) and several biathletes.
One sprint skier too many selected for the Olympics: “Clearly frustrating”
December 16, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Sweden has named five women’s cross‑country sprint skiers to its 2026 Olympic team even though only four can start the sprint race. Johanna Hagström calls the Olympic selection a dream but acknowledges the spot doesn’t guarantee a sprint start, describing the situation as frustrating. She says securing the Olympic berth still gives her a clear target to work toward.
Norway names first cross‑country skiers for the 2026 Olympics – Davos World Cup winner left out for now
December 16, 2025 / Yle
Norway’s Olympiatoppen announced eight initial cross‑country selections for the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including stars Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Heidi Weng and Kristine Stavås Skistad. Surprise men’s standout Einar Hedegart made the team, but Davos 10 km winner Karoline Simpson‑Larsen was not yet selected; coaches say one win isn’t sufficient and they will monitor athletes through the Norwegian Championships in mid‑January, with quotas currently eight women and seven men.