Finland win second Olympic medal — women's relay take bronze in dramatic race

Finland's women returned to the Olympic relay podium in dramatic fashion. Ebba Andersson's crash decided the race.

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By Joel Sippola and Laura Arffman

Published 14 Feb — Updated 14 Feb

Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics on Yle 6–22 Feb 2026. All news, results and broadcast schedules on the Olympics page.

Finland has won its second medal at the Milano‑Cortina Olympics. The Finnish women's relay team finished third and returned to the Olympic relay podium after a 12‑year gap.

At the same time Finland snapped a streak of three major championships without a medal in the women's relay. The previous medal had been the surprise bronze at the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf.

The medal quartet was Johanna Matintalo, Kerttu Niskanen, Vilma Ryytty and Jasmi Joensuu. For 24‑year‑old Ryytty this is her first senior championship medal. For Matintalo and Joensuu it was their first Olympic medal.

The most talked about incident happened late on leg two when pre‑race favourite Sweden's Ebba Andersson crashed, somersaulted and lost her second ski. That episode ended Sweden's golden hopes.

Norway took the gold and Sweden the silver.

Over the last 38 years Finland has won only four Olympic women's relay medals: 1988, 2010, 2014 and now 2026.

Johanna Matintalo led off for Finland in a big group. Photo: Getty Images

Kerttu Niskanen pulled a gap on Finland's main rivals. Photo: Getty Images

How the relay unfolded

On the opening leg Matintalo led Finland. The pace was moderate at first and for a long time twelve teams remained in the pack. After a little over five kilometres Germany's starter Laura Gimmler began to struggle and fall behind.

Sweden's Linn Svahn escaped at the end of the first leg. Italy and Norway followed, seven seconds back.

Johanna Matintalo handed over in sixth, 12.2 seconds behind Sweden. Gimmler had suffered badly and came into the exchange only tenth, 40 seconds off the lead.

On leg two Sweden's Ebba Andersson crashed early and Norway and Italy managed to get a small gap. Kerttu Niskanen lifted Finland quickly to fourth.

Italy enlivened the race. On leg two Caterina Gantz skied aggressively. Niskanen caught her and briefly pushed Finland into third.

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Andersson falls for the first time

Andersson fell dramatically

Andersson tumbled toward the end of the second leg, somersaulting. In the fall one of her skis detached and she continued for a long distance on just one ski.

Sweden was thrown into chaos and even the service staff slipped in the scramble. The pre‑race favourite reached the second exchange only eighth, 1:18 behind Norway.

Finland was about a minute behind.

On the third leg it looked like Switzerland might be Finland's main rival for a medal. First‑time championship relay skier Vilma Ryytty succeeded in dropping Switzerland's Nadja Kälin.

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Andersson crashed a second time, even more spectacularly.

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Even a coach fell in the chaos.

Joensuu secures the medal

Ryytty brought Finland into the final exchange in second. Italy was nine seconds behind and Sweden 18 seconds back.

On the anchor leg Finland, sitting second, battled Sweden — which had surged thanks to Frida Karlsson's strong third leg.

Sweden's anchor Jonna Sundling caught Joensuu and passed to take silver, but Joensuu held on and secured the last medal for Finland.