Another blistering race by Einar Hedegart — crushes Norway’s elite to win Olympic event in Davos

Einar Hedegart produced another outstanding performance in Davos, storming to victory in the men’s 10 km freestyle — the same distance scheduled for the 2026 Olympics.

Sitting in the leader’s chair, Hedegart watched as one national team skier after another finished well behind. He ultimately won by a clear margin over an all‑Norwegian podium: Harald Østberg Amundsen was 11.7 seconds back in second, and Mattis Stenshagen 18.8 seconds behind in third.

Speaking to Viaplay, Hedegart said he was even more pleased with this World Cup victory than his first, calling it a "10 out of 10" race: “I don’t just want to win by four‑tenths like in Trondheim — I want to crush the others, and that felt amazing.”

The 24‑year‑old has now won the 10 km freestyle in all three of his attempts this season: at Norway’s national opener in Beitostølen, in the World Cup opener at Ruka, and now in Davos. Experts Niklas Dyrhaug and Martin Johnsrud Sundby hailed his form and timing, noting he has made himself almost impossible to ignore for the Olympic team.

Still, competition for Milan–Cortina 2026 is fierce, with Norway allotted only four starters for the distance. Head coach Eirik Myhr Nossum praised Hedegart’s already high international level in individual‑start skating and said he has taken another step forward this winter. Emil Iversen, also outside the A‑team and battling for selection, argued it was a mistake not to include Hedegart on the national squad last year, calling him Norway’s best skater after his run of victories.

With a two‑month build‑up ahead of the Games, Hedegart says he can now plan training and racing more selectively as he aims to lock down his Olympic spot.