Cross-country skiing : first Olympic title for Frida Karlsson
The very first gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games was up for grabs early on Saturday afternoon in the women’s skiathlon. Seventy athletes set out to win the precious metal on the track at Tesero (Italy) in the Val di Fiemme.
In this spectacular skiathlon format, Sweden’s Frida Karlsson literally flew down the difficult Italian track to claim her first solo Olympic title at the age of 26. At the end of the first lap in the classic technique, she took control of the race and provoked a first selection.
Four female cross-country skiers were up front: Frida Karlsson, accompanied by her compatriots Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling, and Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind. In the third loop, Jonna Sundling gave way, leaving Karlsson, Andersson and Slind to take the lead at the halfway point for the ski change.
From the start of the skating section, Frida Karlsson set a hellish pace. She quickly overtook Astrid Oeyre Slind, before dropping Ebba Andersson with seven kilometres to go. The Swede then took off alone towards the Olympic grail.
In the final, Frida Karlsson, with her large advantage, was able to savour her success to the full. She crossed the finish line draped in the Swedish flag. In the Swedish camp, she succeeds Charlotte Kalla, who won the skiathlon at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (South Korea).
Behind the winner, Ebba Andersson took silver, 51 seconds behind her compatriot. This was her first ever individual medal at the Olympic Games. Norwegian Heidi Weng, who was eighth halfway through the race, rounded off the podium at 1 minute 26 seconds, after a remarkable skating performance. This is her second bronze medal in this format, twelve years after winning it in Sochi (Russia) in 2014.
In fourth place, Switzerland’s Nadja Kaelin put in a superb performance. The 24-year-old Swiss cross-country skier achieved the best individual result of her career at the highest level, having never finished higher than seventh in a World Cup race. Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen took fifth place, just ahead of Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind, who struggled in the skating section.
Czech rider Katerina Janatova was seventh, ahead of American Jessie Diggins, who crashed out on the first lap. Austria’s Teresa Stadlober finished ninth, while Norway’s Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs rounded off the top 10.
Léonie Perry best blues
In the French camp, Léonie Perry from Bresse put in the best French performance. In her very first Olympic race, the 21-year-old cross-country skier was 26th when her skis were changed. She then put in a very good performance in the skating, enabling her to climb back up to a solid 16th place in the final.
Bornand’s Julie Pierrel and Chaunière’s Cloé Pagnier were also making their Olympic debut in this skiathlon. Both put in a fine performance in the classic technique, emerging together from the ski change in 21st and 22nd place. After the 10km skating, Julie Pierrel maintained her 21st place, while Cloé Pagnier slipped back a few places to finish 27th.
Meanwhile, Delphine Claudel from the Vosges, who has been hampered by injuries for a long time this season, came 31st.
Full results
CCSWSKIATHLN-FNL-000100-__C73B_1.0Read also
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- Change of skis and style… The skiathlon format explained
- 2026 Olympics: the full programme for cross-country skiing at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympics
- Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium: everything you need to know about the Val di Fiemme stadium, which will host the cross-country skiing events at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
- The French team selection for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- The CNOSF reveals the first list of Frenchmen selected for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina
- “We favour athletes who are capable of going out and winning medals”: Olivier Michaud looks back at France’s selection for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- The reactions of Léonie Perry and Julie Pierrel, selected for the Olympic Games for the first time: “An incredible experience” and “Truly incredible”.
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympics: two extra quotas for the French team
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympics: Cloé Pagnier, Clémence Didierlaurent, Justine Gaillard and Victor Lovera complete the French squad
- “I’m very proud”: freshly selected for his first Olympic Games, Victor Lovera talks to Nordic Magazine
- “A dream”, “Looking forward to this crazy experience”, “A source of pride”: reactions from Clémence Didierlaurent, Cloé Pagnier and Justine Gaillard, selected for their first Olympic Games.
- Pierre Mignerey, FFS National Technical Director, outlines the French team’s ambitions for the 2026 Olympics: “The aim is to come back from the Games with medals”.
- Ill, Jules Chappaz won’t arrive in Italy until Saturday
