Cross Country Skiing
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Olympic spot in danger — Hegstad Krüger left out of Davos World Cup
December 08, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Norway’s Simen Hegstad Krüger was not selected for this weekend’s Davos World Cup 10 km freestyle, a key final selection race for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic 10 km. After illness in Ruka and middling results in Trondheim, Krüger’s Olympic chances are under threat as several compatriots have outperformed him. Norway named six men and a women’s squad for Davos, with automatic starts for Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Mattis Stenshagen; experts warn Krüger or Emil Iversen may miss out on the Olympic quota.
Cross-country: Calle Halfvarsson isolates himself in a storied cabin to chase form
December 08, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish veteran Calle Halfvarsson has moved alone to Orsa Grönklitt to train in isolation after a poor season start in Gällivare. Having stepped away from the national team, he hopes to earn World Cup starts and keep his Olympic dream alive, with his next race planned at the Scandinavian Cup in Östersund in mid-December.
“Swedish women’s cross‑country skiing has never been better”
December 08, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Radiosporten’s ski expert Hanna Falk says Sweden’s women’s cross‑country team is at an all‑time high after the World Cup weekend in Trondheim. She highlights the training culture and strong group dynamics as key strengths, while noting that the coaching staff faces a major selection challenge ahead of the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Mika Vermeulen on Filipino skier’s crash: “Has nothing to do in the World Cup”
December 08, 2025 / NRK Sport
Austrian cross-country skier Mika Vermeulen criticizes new FIS rules that allowed inexperienced athletes from small nations, including the Philippines’ Edward Limbaga, to start early in a World Cup 10 km freestyle in Trondheim. Limbaga, who first skied four weeks earlier, fell multiple times and finished last, prompting safety concerns from Vermeulen and Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen and Jan Thomas Jenssen. FIS race director Michal Lamplot defends the temporary pre-Christmas exception, introduced at the IOC’s request to help Olympic qualification, while acknowledging start-order constraints in Trondheim; Limbaga says he followed rules and will try again in Davos to meet the 300-point Olympic standard.
Experts baffled as Kerttu Niskanen’s form plunges; Finland’s stars struggle while new names shine
December 08, 2025 / Yle
Yle’s experts express surprise at the poor early-season form of Finland’s top cross‑country skiers Kerttu Niskanen, Iivo Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski after disappointing World Cup results in Trondheim. Kerttu finished 31st in the 10 km freestyle, an extremely rare result for her on distance races, while Iivo battled back issues and placed 30th in the same event after a tough skiathlon. Analyst Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen highlighted positives from emerging Finns such as Arsi Ruuskanen (8th in the 10 km) and noted Sweden’s men also underperformed, even as Sweden’s women dominated; the World Cup moves next to Davos, where expectations are high for Kerttu to rebound.
Report: Several Russians may be cleared to race in Davos under neutral status
December 08, 2025 / SVT Sport
SVT Sport reports that multiple Russian cross‑country skiers, including rising star Saveliy Korostelev, could receive FIS approval to compete as neutral athletes at this weekend’s World Cup in Davos. The first list of approved neutrals is expected by mid‑week; athletes must not have supported the war or be linked to the Russian army. With Davos the last chance to gain crucial FIS points, approvals would also allow these skiers to pursue Olympic qualification for Milano–Cortina 2026.
Two wins for Zebastian Modin in season opener
December 08, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Swedish para cross‑country star Zebastian Modin, guided by Emil Talsi, started his Paralympic season with victories in both the 10 km individual start and the 10 km mass start, and also took second place in the sprint. Teammate Ellen Westerlund set a personal best with fourth place in the 10 km mass start. The results signal strong early form for Sweden’s para Nordic team.
Russian cross-country skier could appear in the World Cup as early as this week
December 08, 2025 / Yle
Yle reports that 22‑year‑old Savely (Savelii) Korostelev has reportedly obtained a visa for Davos, where the Cross‑Country World Cup resumes, and is awaiting FIS approval to compete as a neutral athlete. The development follows a CAS ruling allowing eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate as neutrals in Olympic qualifiers and the 2026 Winter Olympics. Elena Välbe says Korostelev—who just beat Aleksandr Bolshunov in a 20 km mass start in Tyumen—may travel once neutral status is confirmed, with FIS vetting neutrality, non‑affiliation with military/security bodies, and anti‑doping compliance.
“Oh heck! Oh boy” — Norwegian winner broke rules on his phone as Iivo Niskanen struggled in icy form
December 07, 2025 / Yle
At the Trondheim Cross‑Country World Cup 10 km freestyle, Norway’s Einar Hedegart edged teammate Andreas Fjorden Ree by 0.4 seconds after a dramatic finish. Hedegart briefly livestreamed from the winner’s chair on Instagram, earning a stern warning for violating broadcast rules, while Finland’s Arsi Ruuskanen impressed as the best non‑Norwegian in 8th and Iivo Niskanen finished a distant 30th. Niko Anttola posted a career‑best 15th, and expert Kalle Lassila noted Finland’s top medal hopefuls are out of form as Olympic selection battles intensify.
Norwegian cross-country skier: “The Olympic dream is long gone”
December 07, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
After finishing sixth in the Granåsen World Cup 10 km freestyle, Norway’s Iver Tildheim Andersen said he has given up on making the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic team. Despite beating Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and finishing just 11 seconds off the podium, Andersen believes competition for Norway’s eight expected men’s quota spots is too fierce and he will target other goals.
Expert Kalle Lassila would drop Perttu Hyvärinen from Finland’s Olympic XC team — skier fires back with blunt admission
December 07, 2025 / Yle
Finnish cross-country ski selection debates are intensifying ahead of the 2026 Milano–Cortina Olympics, with final auditions at next week’s Davos World Cup. Yle expert Kalle Lassila named his provisional men’s and women’s Olympic teams, notably leaving out Perttu Hyvärinen, who acknowledged his poor early-season form and said he wouldn’t select himself either. Head coach Teemu Pasanen will finalize choices after Davos, as several Finnish men contend for limited spots while Norway’s depth highlights the fierce competition for Olympic berths.
Einar Hedegart claims first World Cup win as Norway’s Olympic selection battle intensifies
December 07, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Einar Hedegart won the men’s 10 km freestyle World Cup race in Granåsen by 0.4 seconds over teammate Andreas Fjorden Ree, with Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget third. The result, along with strong performances from veterans like Emil Iversen, tightens Norway’s competition for Olympic spots ahead of Milano–Cortina 2026. Experts Pål Golberg and Fredrik Aukland praised Hedegart’s form, with calls for him to secure an Olympic berth in the distance.