Cross‑country: Breakthrough for Anton Grahn — third in sprint on the Olympic course

Success for Anton Grahn — third in the sprint on the Olympic course

Updated 3 January 2026 — Published 3 January 2026

A breakthrough for Anton Grahn — in his first World Cup sprint final of his career.

The 21‑year‑old grabbed third place in the sprint at the Olympic rehearsal in Val di Fiemme.

"It's absolutely incredible, I couldn't be happier," he tells SVT Sport.

Grahn, who won the sprint at the Swedish season opener in Gällivare, had previously best result of seventh in the World Cup. But on the Olympic course in Val di Fiemme he became the top Swede by making it all the way to the final — and the podium.

"I've had this sprint in my sights for a long time — it's the Olympic course, so in a way it was a bit expected that it might go well on this day," Grahn told SVT Sport.

"Feels like I'm at 150 percent"

In the final he was for a long while in second behind an overwhelming Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, but on the home straight Jules Chappaz took second and Grahn sprinted to third — in his first World Cup final.

"My sprint I don't place exactly as I wanted and I get passed. But it feels like I'm going at 150 percent from halfway up the hill and in," he said.

Grahn was the only Swedish man to advance from the quarterfinals.

"I'm not very surprised, I know he has a very high top capacity and an incredible winner's mentality, so I'm not surprised but very happy," national team coach Anders Högberg said about Grahn's successful race.

Related links mentioned on the page include the Tour de Ski and other cross‑country stories and video items on SVT Sport.

Updated 3 January 2026 at 18:28

Published 3 January 2026 at 16:35