Cross-country Skiing: Maja Dahlqvist's First World Cup Victory Since 2021

Originally published in SVT Sport on February 01, 2025

Maja Dahlqvist claimed her first individual World Cup victory in nearly four years during the sprint in Cogne. The 30-year-old Swedish skier dominated the race from the outset, finishing first in every final heat. With roughly a minute remaining in the sprint, she surged into the lead and never looked back.

Expressing her relief and excitement after crossing the finish line, Dahlqvist exclaimed, “Finally! It was about time,” highlighting the long wait since her last win on December 18, 2021, in Dresden. Reflecting on her strategy, she mentioned that her focus was solely on maintaining a steady pace rather than worrying about her competitors, which proved to be a successful mindset this race.

Swiss skier Nadine Fändrich finished in a solid second place, just 0.94 seconds behind, while German Laura Gimmler rounded out the podium in third. Dahlqvist’s victory this season represents a significant turnaround after a challenging previous year, and it marks a promising return to form in the World Cup circuit.