Cross Country Skiing
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.
Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen praises Finland’s ‘second string’ after Davos while slamming Remi Lindholm’s false start; mixed fortunes for stars like Klæbo
December 15, 2025 / Yle
Finnish expert Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen says Finland’s emerging group delivered career-best World Cup results in Davos: Arsi Ruuskanen (11th) and Niko Anttola (13th) in the men’s 10 km free, and Vilma Ryytty (9th) and Vilma Nissinen (18th) in the women’s race, with Ryytty posting a personal best. She criticizes Remi Lindholm’s three‑second false start—reportedly to try drafting Harald Østberg Amundsen—which, along with a poor race, left him 49th and likely out of Finland’s Olympic plans. Saarinen also questions Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s tactical choices in the Davos sprint and says athletes now face choices on Tour de Ski versus training as the season pauses for Christmas.
Myhlback’s Olympic chances improve — even without racing: “That won’t hold”
December 15, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Radiosporten reports that 19‑year‑old Alvar Myhlback is emerging as a serious Olympic candidate in cross‑country sprint despite skipping the latest weekend of racing. Expert Torgny Mogren calls him Sweden’s strongest men’s sprinter this season and notes that weak domestic competition could favor his Olympic selection. The piece also questions the state of Sweden’s men’s sprint depth, suggesting the current situation is unsustainable.
Iivo Niskanen a question mark for Finland’s head coach; Russian skier says altitude “destroyed” him in Davos
December 15, 2025 / Yle
The article reviews Finnish men's results in the Davos World Cup 10 km freestyle, where Perttu Hyvärinen and Remi Lindholm underperformed while Arsi Ruuskanen again impressed and is close to Olympic selection. Iivo Niskanen missed the race due to illness amid recent back and form issues, with Emil Liekari called early in the morning to replace him. Russia’s Savely Korostelev, racing under neutral status, started fast but faded at altitude; he still believes the performance secured Russia’s final quota for the 2026 Winter Olympics following the CAS decision allowing neutral participation.
Expert on Sweden’s men: “Something isn’t right” after Davos World Cup
December 15, 2025 / Sveriges Radio - Radiosporten
Radiosporten expert Torgny Mogren reacts to Sweden’s men’s cross‑country team underperforming at the Davos World Cup. He suggests the problems may stem from preparation and build‑up rather than race‑day effort. The piece notes hopes for a turnaround were not realized in Davos.
Cross-country: Moa Ilar finishes Davos weekend on the podium
December 14, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Moa Ilar took second place in the women’s 10 km race at the Davos World Cup, leaving her second overall in the World Cup standings behind Jessie Diggins. Norway’s Karoline Simpson‑Larsen claimed her first career World Cup victory, with Astrid Øyre Slind third and Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist fourth.
Vilma Ryytty posts career-best 9th in Davos 10 km free; busy Sunday across World Cups
December 14, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s Vilma Ryytty finished ninth in the women’s 10 km freestyle in Davos, her best individual World Cup result, while Norway’s Karoline Simpson-Larsen won. Norway swept the men’s 10 km free led by Einar Hedegart, and Arsi Ruuskanen was the top Finn in 11th. The roundup also covers Antti Aalto’s 22nd in Klingenthal ski jumping, biathlon results in Hochfilzen where Suvi Minkkinen surged from 49th to 13th in the pursuit, and Alpine World Cup races in Val d’Isère and St. Moritz.
Cross-country skiing: Stina Nilsson finishes second in Bad Gastein Ski Classics opener
December 14, 2025 / SVT Sport
Stina Nilsson took second place in the 36 km Ski Classics race in Bad Gastein, finishing just behind Norway’s Anniken Gjerde Alnæs after the duo, along with Silje Øyre Slind, broke away with about 10 km to go. After a post-race review of an incident with Jenny Larsson on a downhill, Nilsson received a yellow card but kept her podium, her sixth in Ski Classics. Norway’s Kasper Stadaas won the men’s race.
Cross-country: Sweden men’s team struggles — Anders Byström on Jens Burman: “I don’t understand”
December 14, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s men’s cross‑country team is off to a troubled start, highlighted by Jens Burman’s 47th and 65th places in the Scandinavian Cup in Östersund after being dropped from the World Cup team. National team manager Anders Byström calls Burman’s collapse a mystery given his strong autumn training and says the staff will investigate. With illness setbacks for William Poromaa and Oskar Svensson and underperformance from others, Byström warns the men’s side is vulnerable ahead of the Olympics and may use more Scandinavian Cup starts to rebuild form.