Cross Country Skiing
Swedish team boss on Myhlback’s breakthrough: “We’ve been hoping for this”
December 09, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Swedish national-team manager Anders Byström praised 18‑year‑old Alvar Myhlback after his podium in the World Cup sprint in Trondheim, calling it proof of his all‑round ability. Despite upcoming World Cup races in Davos this weekend, Myhlback will skip them to prepare for the long‑distance Ski Classics series. Byström says the start to Myhlback’s season has been outstanding and showcases his talent in both sprint and traditional distances.
Analysis: Aleksandr Bolshunov’s behavior tears Russia’s cross‑country team apart amid Olympic eligibility ruling
December 09, 2025 / Yle
CAS ruled that Russian and Belarusian Nordic athletes may compete at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as neutrals if they meet IOC criteria, but internal strife is roiling Russia’s cross‑country ski team. Star Aleksandr Bolshunov sparked outrage after shoving Aleksandr Bakurov at a Russian Cup sprint, drawing rare public condemnation and a brief suspension, and escalating a rift between coach groups led by Yuri Borodavko and Egor Sorin. With Bolshunov’s political ties likely barring him from neutral status, rising athletes like Savely Korostelev target World Cup returns, while federation chief Elena Välbe doubts many Russians will meet IOC conditions.
Cross-country phenom Saveliy Korostelev draws attention: “From Russia’s highest skiing lineage”
December 09, 2025 / SVT Sport
SVT highlights Russian cross‑country prodigy Saveliy Korostelev, 22, who has produced notable results despite Russia’s World Cup suspension and could compete at the 2026 Olympics under a neutral flag. Analyst Anders Blomquist calls him one of the most exciting skiers in the world and says he comes from the country’s “highest skiing caste,” while SVT reporter Maria Lapenkova notes the pressure on him given few Russians may be cleared for the Games. Korostelev has chosen not to comment on the war in Ukraine, a stance that may enable his neutral eligibility.
Why Sweden’s biggest stars skip the Davos World Cup weekend
December 09, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Sweden has named its cross-country squad for the Davos World Cup, but top distance skiers Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, William Poromaa and Alvar Myhlback are absent. With a program featuring team sprint, individual sprint and a 10 km freestyle, the distance specialists are opting to rest, opening spots for athletes like Elina Rönnlund and Marcus Grate. The article lists the selected women’s and men’s teams for the Swiss World Cup stop.
How FIS checks Russian athletes’ neutrality before Davos World Cup entry
December 09, 2025 / SVT Sport
FIS competition director Sandra Spitz explains the vetting process for allowing Russian (and Belarusian) athletes to compete as neutrals in this weekend’s cross‑country World Cup in Davos. A panel including FIS secretary general Michel Vion uses reports from an external firm that audits athletes’ online activity and other integrity criteria before approvals are issued, which could come just days before competition and influence Olympic qualification chances.
Cross-country: Stina Nilsson on her relationship with the media: “Super fed up with seeing headlines that aren’t true”
December 09, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish star Stina Nilsson reflects on her relationship with the media, saying she tried to avoid “failure headlines,” especially when she switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon. Now competing in long-distance Ski Classics, she calls her Vasaloppet victory the greatest achievement of her career, outweighing even her PyeongChang Olympic gold because of the memories it created. The piece promotes her appearance on SVT’s interview series Kallprat.
Illness forces Krista Pärmäkoski to cut short Davos training camp
December 09, 2025 / Yle
Finnish cross‑country skier Krista Pärmäkoski said on Instagram she is leaving her Davos, Switzerland training camp earlier than planned due to a virus. She expects to change her original race calendar and remains optimistic about switching to a plan B. The article also notes the Davos World Cup weekend schedule on 12–14 December 2025.
Cross-country: Emil Persson’s body won’t cooperate — why he’s skipping the Ski Classics opener
December 09, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish long-distance star Emil Persson will miss this weekend’s Ski Classics season opener in Bad Gastein due to persistent physical issues that have disrupted his training since October. He reports no specific pain but says a locking problem in his hip and lower back area prevents normal movement and effective training. Persson is restarting rehabilitation with physio, naprapathy, and massage, aiming to return in January but acknowledging his goals have shifted toward late-season races after the Vasaloppet.
Cross-country skiing: Russian star Savelii Korostelev to be flown to Davos
December 08, 2025 / SVT Sport
SVT reports that Russian cross-country prospect Savelii Korostelev is set to travel from Tyumen to Davos for the World Cup, pending approval of his neutral status by FIS. Korostelev, a double junior world champion who just outsprinted triple Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov to win a 20 km mass start in the Russian Cup, has received a visa but says he will only start once neutral eligibility is confirmed. If he competes, it would be the first time a Russian athlete faces international opposition in cross-country skiing since the Beijing 2022 Olympics; Sweden’s Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson and William Poromaa will skip the high-altitude Davos stop.
Anger over unusual World Cup scenes: “It’s dangerous,” say athletes
December 08, 2025 / SVT Sport
An SVT report highlights backlash after inexperienced athletes were allowed to start at the Trondheim Cross‑Country World Cup as part of FIS’s pre‑Christmas qualification pathway for developing nations. Austrian skier Mika Vermeulen called the situation dangerous, while SVT expert Anders Blomquist said there should be better alternatives to broaden the sport. The article spotlights 48‑year‑old Edward Limbaga of the Philippines, who reportedly began skiing four weeks earlier and finished 111th, 23:29 behind winner Einar Hedegart.
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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.