Cross-country Skiing: Several Dramas Overshadow WM Race

Dramas Overshadow WM Race

Joy and sorrow often come close together in cross-country skiing. While Norway's star Johannes Høsflot Kläbo charges to another WC gold, several small and large dramas unfold in the ten-kilometer race.

Johannes Hösflot Kläbo wins gold in Trondheim.
© IMAGO/Lehtikuva

In Trondheim, Norwegian wonder runner Johannes Hösflot Kläbo continues his record chase with a third gold medal, rising to become the superstar of the championships. While Erik Valnes and Harald Østberg Amundsen secured the Norwegian triple triumph, two other hopefuls from the host nation faced a challenging day.

Martin Löwström Nyenget was also on a medal course when he fell before the final descent. "He falls from a possible medal. Oi, oi, oi. On the last climb," lamented Norwegian commentator Jann Post alongside the athlete.

Krüger Complains of Heart Flutters

Things went even worse for Simen Hegstad Krüger, who experienced a disastrous championship with a 46th place finish. The Olympic champion explained his drop-off around the halfway point with heart problems. "I think it might be heart flutters. I've experienced it a few times in training," he told vg.no. If this sounds serious, the 31-year-old reassured, "I have been checked for it before. I don't think it's dangerous," he clarified.

Swedish Stars Experience a Downturn on the Course

The severe snowfall conditions also troubled the Swedes. William Poomaa was leading three kilometers from the finish but collapsed completely, settling for sixth place. "I couldn’t see anything; my glasses were fogged up, and it was hard to keep everything under control," he recounted to SVT Sport.

Not much laughter was to be had either from compatriot Jens Burman. "First, you get times for the leader. Then you get times for the podium. Then you get no times anymore. That’s when I realized things were going downhill," he expressed frustration after placing 22nd.

DSV Trio Without Chance

The German trio also struggled with the tough conditions. Friedrich Moch, landing as the best DSV athlete, finished in 25th place. "It was just hard. I thought the conditions would come to our aid today, and I could achieve a really good result," he told SID. "But then I couldn’t manage at all; it really dug me in. It was simply a bad feeling."

Behind Moch, who had already made the podium three times in different 10 km races in much better conditions, came Albert Kuchler in 28th place and Janosch Brugger in 37th.

Kläbo Chasing Northug

Only Kläbo once again managed to defy all resistances. Despite the masses of new snow in the track, he managed another impressive display after wins in the sprint and skiathlon.

With now twelve WC titles, the 28-year-old is just one gold medal away from matching the record held by his compatriot Petter Northug. Kläbo has three more gold chances in Trondheim, the next being on Wednesday in the team sprint. No cross-country skier has won five gold medals at a single championship, Northug triumphed four times in Falun in 2015. Only the Russian Yelena Välbe won five golds in 1997 at the first Trondheim World Championships, competing in just five events.

With Sport-Informations-Dienst (SID)