Iivo Niskanen pushes back on sensational headlines and reveals major race plan: Tour de Ski in Olympic year

Iivo Niskanen downplayed the fuss around his recent coaching change, telling Yle that his choice to assume nominal responsibility for his own program is not a radical break. He explained that with longtime personal coach Olli Ohtonen, most cooperation for the past 11–12 years has already been remote and discussion-based, so labeling the shift as dramatic is “tabloid-like.” In his view, it is simpler for him to carry the formal responsibility now.

The multiple championship medalist fractured his thumb in May and was only able to ski with both poles again in early July. He said the summer involved a lot of “relearning” after surgery and fixing left–right imbalances, but overall training volume has been roughly on par with last year, with changes more on the intensity side. Illness sidelined him just before the Trondheim World Championships, wiping out his main goal last season. This year he hopes for better health and more frequent racing, noting he has trained over 4,000 hours across the past four years without enough chances to compete.

Niskanen confirmed he intends to race the Tour de Ski over New Year despite many top athletes skipping it in Olympic seasons. He believes competing won’t harm his Olympic preparation and recalls that racing normally worked well ahead of Beijing 2022. He also aims to fight for top positions in the distance World Cup standings.

Looking toward the 2026 Olympics in Val di Fiemme, Niskanen acknowledged he has raced relatively little there on standard distance courses, though he won the U23 world title at that venue about 12 years ago. He pointed out that the 50 km course profile and the February timing will differ from typical Tour de Ski conditions, which often have low snow.

His primary Olympic target is the 50 km classic mass start, the event in which he won Olympic gold in 2018. He also highlights the skiathlon and the relay, and he hopes to translate years of skating work—including no-pole skating drills over a decade—into better freestyle performance in Val di Fiemme.

On the storied Holmenkollen 50 km, Niskanen has chased victory many times, coming closest in 2017 when he finished second behind Martin Johnsrud Sundby shortly after the Lahti World Championships. He said Kollen has brought "quite a bit of bad luck," but with top form it’s still possible; the key is arriving prepared to have something left after 49 km.

Niskanen debuted at the Olympics in Sochi 2014 at age 22, finishing fourth in an individual race and winning team sprint gold with Sami Jauhojärvi. Now, he says he’s hungrier than ever and skis only for the "brightest possible" success.