Cross Country Skiing
Sweden’s top 10 Olympic medal hopes: Cross‑country skiers dominate
October 29, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
With 100 days to go until the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Radiosporten’s medal barometer says Sweden’s biggest medal prospects are in cross‑country skiing, led by a dominant women’s team. All of last season’s women’s world champions are included among Sweden’s top candidates, reflecting the team’s clean sweep of golds at the World Championships. The piece notes Sweden’s record haul from Beijing 2022 (eight golds, 18 total medals) as context for expectations.
Cross-country: Edvin Anger: “I used to be ashamed of my weight”
October 29, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish cross-country skier Edvin Anger discusses how he once felt ashamed of his body weight and occasionally dieted to fit in, but now views his size as a strength. Standing 193 cm and weighing 100.2 kg during a summer 10 km running race (31:37), he says his Olympic target weight is around 95 kg with 7–8% body fat, noting that +/-1 kg matters little but a 5 kg swing can be significant. His main goal is the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina.
Norwegian cross-country legend Odd Martinsen has died – “Relay-Martin” was a force at major championships
October 27, 2025 / Yle
Norway’s Odd Martinsen, a star of 1960s–70s cross-country skiing famed as “Relay-Martin,” has died at age 82, the Norwegian Ski Federation announced. Martinsen anchored Norway to 4x10 km relay world gold in Oslo 1966 and Olympic gold in Grenoble 1968, later adding relay medals at the 1974 Worlds and 1976 Olympics as well as individual medals at 15 km and 30 km. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre paid tribute, calling him a role model for many ski lovers.
Linn Svahn relieved she won’t face Olympic boycott decision after FIS vote on Russia/Belarus
October 27, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish cross-country star Linn Svahn says she is relieved she no longer has to consider boycotting the 2026 Winter Olympics after FIS members voted down a proposal to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes. She called it a sensible decision given the unchanged war situation and sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. William Poromaa echoed her view, while Russia has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Cross-country: William Poromaa on Norwegian 'coward' jab: “Nice to hear”
October 27, 2025 / SVT Sport
Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen recently said Swedish skiers are “cowards” who skip too many races. Sweden’s William Poromaa brushed off the provocation, saying he focuses on championships and prefers long distances, which are being shortened more often. Sprinter Marcus Grate partially agreed with Amundsen, arguing that athletes must race more to keep public interest high.
Swedish FIS chief Eliasch on Russia: “Not an easy decision”
October 24, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
FIS president Johan Eliasch commented for the first time after the federation decided earlier this week to block Russian and Belarusian skiers from the upcoming Winter Olympics. Eliasch, long criticized for favoring a path back for those athletes, said athletes must never be used as political tools, speaking at a press conference ahead of the Alpine World Cup opener in Sölden. The piece is framed within Nordic skiing coverage and follows recent reactions from Russia to the decision.
FIS blocks Russians and Belarusians from 2026 Olympic ski qualifiers
October 23, 2025 / Lake Placid News
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) voted to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from qualifying events for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including Paralympic disciplines it oversees. While the IOC permits neutral participation, FIS opted not to allow it in its sports, affecting strong Russian programs in cross‑country, ski jumping, snowboard and freestyle. Other winter federations are split, with ice skating and ski mountaineering opening neutral paths while hockey and biathlon remain closed; bobsled/skeleton may follow a tribunal order to admit eligible neutrals.
Confirmed: Sex verification testing to be introduced at the 2027 World Championships in Falun
October 23, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) confirms that sex verification testing will begin at the 2027 Nordic World Championships in Falun, with the policy entering into force in July 2026 and first applied at those championships before rolling out to the World Cup in 2027/28. An earlier September announcement had been interpreted as immediate implementation, but the timeline is now clarified. Falun 2027 runs from 24 February to 7 March.
Decision: FIS to introduce sex testing in skiing — first at 2027 Falun World Championships
October 23, 2025 / SVT Sport
The International Ski Federation (FIS) will implement a new eligibility policy with sex testing starting in July 2026, debuting at the 2027 Nordic World Championships in Falun before extending to World Cup competitions in 2027/28. Testing via saliva or blood will apply across all FIS disciplines, including cross‑country, ski jumping, and alpine. SVT expert Pernilla Wiberg welcomed the move, while athletes have shown mixed reactions in earlier coverage.
After the decision: Russia blames a “Scandinavian lobby” for Olympic exclusion
October 22, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Following the decision to bar Russian athletes from the 2026 Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics, Russia’s cross-country head coach Yuri Borodavko accused a “Scandinavian lobby,” particularly Norway, of pushing for the ban and even threatening a boycott if Russians were allowed to compete. Norwegian outlet VG is cited as reporting the Russian team’s anger. The piece reflects the political fallout in Nordic skiing after the IOC decision and Russia’s planned appeal.
Cross-Country TD Seminar in Val di Fiemme Brings Together 25 Nations
October 22, 2025 / FIS (International Ski & Snowboard Federation)
FIS hosted a Cross-Country Technical Delegate seminar in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on October 17–19, 2025, drawing nearly 90 participants from 25 nations. Sessions covered jury work, rule updates, homologation, rollerski, popular and Para Cross-Country, and course/stadium preparation, with contributions from athletes, officials, and external experts. The venue, which will host the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic events, underscored the focus on harmonizing standards across FIS competitions.
Finnish Ski Association chief welcomes FIS decision to keep Russians out; ex-biathlon star’s nuclear threat remark draws outrage
October 21, 2025 / Yle
Finnish Ski Association chair Sirpa Korkatti says the FIS board’s decision to continue banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions is welcome and the result of sustained Nordic advocacy. Her firm stance—also warning Russians would not be allowed at the Ruka World Cup opener due to entry bans—triggered fierce reactions in Russia, including a shocking comment from four-time Olympic biathlon champion Aleksandr Tikhonov suggesting a nuclear strike on Finland. Korkatti says most feedback in Finland’s sports community has been positive, and she now looks ahead to the Ruka World Cup and the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics.