Cross Country Skiing
Iivo Niskanen and a large group of Finnish skiers named to the Olympics
September 29, 2025 / Yle
The Finnish Olympic Committee announced its first individual athlete selections for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including five cross-country skiers: Jasmi Joensuu, Iivo Niskanen, Kerttu Niskanen, Krista Pärmäkoski and Lauri Vuorinen. Biathlete Suvi Minkkinen, Nordic combined athlete Ilkka Herola, and freeskiers Anni Kärävä and Elias Syrjä were also selected. High-performance director Janne Hänninen said the early choices, made jointly with federations, give top athletes clarity and reflect their medal-contending potential shown last season.
Ebba Andersson on her knee injury: “Not 100% recovered”
September 24, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Swedish cross-country star Ebba Andersson says she enters the Olympic season still recovering from a knee injury sustained during a summer run. She has avoided running entirely in preseason, focusing instead on rollerskiing and cycling, and reports gradual improvement but not full recovery. Andersson hopes her knee will continue trending in the right direction as winter approaches.
Norway admits Therese Johaug’s “white lie” before the Trondheim World Championships
September 23, 2025 / Yle
Norway’s cross-country icon Therese Johaug was ill shortly before last winter’s World Championships in Trondheim, but the team concealed it from the public. National team coach Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass told Expressen they gave a “white lie” when Johaug skipped the Falun World Cup weekend, saying it was for home preparation rather than illness. Johaug has said she caught a cold from her daughter Kristin about three weeks before the championships, and the staff wanted to avoid “chaos” and excessive attention.
Swedish cross-country stars did the forbidden — stopped by police in Italy
September 16, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Sweden’s men’s cross-country team began a high‑altitude training camp in Livigno, Italy, with an unexpected incident: police stopped them on day one for violating local rules. William Poromaa says he nearly had to ride off with the officers and explains the background to the mix‑up. No charges were reported; the team is continuing preparations for the season.
Setback in Olympic build-up: Several Swedish cross-country skiers leave national team camp
September 16, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Several Swedish cross-country national team athletes have left a high-altitude training camp in Lavazè, Italy due to illness as part of their preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Team doctor Rickard Noberius says the affected skiers have mild cold symptoms, but the number of cases has prompted stricter precautions to prevent further spread within the squad.
Rome to host the third stage of the Rollerski World Cup
September 15, 2025 / FIS
Rome will stage its first-ever FIS Rollerski World Cup stop on September 16–17, 2025, featuring a 150 m sprint by the Colosseum and a 10 km mass start around the Terme di Caracalla. The event follows Madona and Trollhättan and precedes the World Cup Finals in Val di Fiemme (Sept 19–21), where sprints, team sprint, and mass starts will decide the season titles. Organizers expect athletes from 18 nations, aligning the showcase with Rome’s Jubilee Year and the lead-up to Milano–Cortina 2026.
Swedish ski heroes accused of doping in new book: “You’re appalled”
September 12, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
A new book about former Finnish skiing star Mika Myllylä alleges that Swedish cross-country skiers used EPO at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics. Finnish ex-head coach Pekka Vähäsöyrinki’s investigations are cited via Ilta‑Sanomat as the basis for the claim. Swedish Olympic champion and current expert Torgny Mogren, who was on that team, reacted by saying the allegations are shocking.
Cross-Country Training Around the World
September 08, 2025 / FIS
FIS highlights how World Cup cross-country skiers have been training across the globe during the summer as they prepare for the upcoming season. The piece briefly notes training camps and meetups in places such as New Zealand, the Pyrenees, and warm-weather locations, and name-checks several top athletes seen in off-season preparation. It’s a light roundup focused on social posts and sightings rather than competition results.
Finnish government proposes €850,000 support for bidding on 2030 European Athletics and hosting the 2029 Nordic Ski World Championships
September 03, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s government included €850,000 in its budget proposal to support Helsinki’s bid for the 2030 European Athletics Championships and the organization of the 2029 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti. Minister Sari Essayah said the funding backs a new model in which the state helps secure and stage major sports events. Urheiluliitto chair Riikka Pakarinen described the championships as a pilot for Finland’s event-hosting model.
Swedish ski star makes big call – leaves national team and moves back home to train
August 28, 2025 / Yle
Six‑time world champion Ebba Andersson, 28, is stepping away from Sweden’s national team setup to live and train with her parents in Sollefteå as she targets the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina. She will again be coached by her father Per‑Ola Andersson, a partnership under which she previously won multiple world titles. After relay medals at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 but no individual Olympic medal, Andersson says the home environment has brought her best results and she aims for her first individual Olympic podium and gold.
Finnish skier Jasmin Kähärä hospitalized in Italy — undergoes abdominal surgery during Lavazè training camp
August 27, 2025 / Yle
Finland's national team cross-country skier Jasmin Kähärä was taken to a hospital in Bolzano while at a Lavazè training camp in Italy and required abdominal surgery. She says recovery is progressing well, light activity has resumed, and she has returned safely to Finland, though full training will be delayed. The 25‑year‑old, a 2025 World Championships participant and Tour de Ski stage contender, thanked medical staff and team support and said she won’t comment further.
Marking 20 Years: Tour de Ski Presents Its Anniversary Logo
August 22, 2025 / FIS
FIS unveiled a special 20th anniversary logo for the Tour de Ski following an open design competition won by 7Overlay. The emblem will be used across the 2025/26 season and during the 20th edition, which begins December 28 in Toblach with a sprint, a 10 km interval start, and the debut of the Heat Mass Start format. The article links to the full Tour de Ski calendar and season documents.