Cross-country skiing | Trondheim Worlds : a fall that could have been costly for Jonna Sundling, bronze medallist in the skiathlon

Cross-country skiing: but for her fall, Jonna Sundling could have believed in a second Norwegian title

Jonna Sundling has already been through all the emotions in the space of a few days at the world cross-country skiing championships in Trondheim (Norway). After winning the inaugural skate sprint in style on Thursday, the Swede was for a long time in a strong position to aim for a second title this Sunday in the skiathlon.

Increasingly at ease in the distance, the 30-year-old cross-country skier held her own in a group that included the formidable Ebba Andersson, Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng. And despite Therese Johaug’s attempts to break away at the front, the Scandinavian responded perfectly by staying in touch with the leaders.

And just as a crazy final lap was about to unfold and she had the best chance of winning in a final sprint, the five-time world champion was unable to keep her balance on the very tight bend in the Granåsen stadium. Settled in third place, she got tangled up and unfortunately got a taste of the day’s salty snow.

In her fall, Jonna Sundling even took with her the unfortunate Heidi Weng, trapped at this speed. It wasn’t a serious incident, however, as the Swede recovered to claim a solid bronze medal, her first ever in the distance.

“It’s my first World Championship medal in a distance race and it was great fun. I felt fit and I had good skis,” she told SVT Sport after the race. But there’s still a lot of frustration because I fell and we lost a lot of time with Heidi Weng. I prevented her from staying in the leading group.

It was a fall that considerably dashed the Norwegian’s dreams of a medal. Nevertheless, the Norwegian seemed to have already taken a step back when she spoke in the mixed zone: “Unfortunately, these things happen. It’s a bit disappointing because she didn’t even ask me if I was OK when I arrived,” she regretted in front of the NRK cameras.

Read also

• Trondheim: Ebba Andersson beats Therese Johaug to the line to win skiathlon gold, Flora Dolci in the top 15
• Trondheim: Flora Dolci wants to give it her all in the World Skiathlon
• “I don’t want to have any regrets at the finish”: at the Trondheim Worlds, Flora Dolci will have a great card to play
• The full programme for the 2025 World Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships in Trondheim

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