Finland Suffers Another Illness Incident at the World Ski Championships – Joni Mäki Collapses and Shares a Painful Reflection

At the 2025 World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Finnish cross-country skier Joni Mäki clearly struggled during the sprint qualification and ultimately collapsed, finishing in 37th place and failing to advance further in the competition. This result was a major setback compared to his previous performance, where he secured a top-four finish in the free technique sprint at the Pyeongchang 2022 Olympic Games.

Mäki explained that he had come down with a mild flu following the Falun World Cup event the previous weekend. Despite having only slight symptoms and hoping to continue, he was unable to muster the pace needed to compete at his usual high level. His candid reflection on his condition revealed his disappointment over not being able to perform as expected at the championships.

The illness incident adds to the challenges facing the Finnish ski team, as teammates Iivo Niskanen and Perttu Hyvärinen also fell ill with influenza after the Falun World Cup, casting doubt on their participation in the championships. Experts, including sports analyst Kalle Lassila and skiing specialist Aino–Kaisa Saarinen, noted that while minor illnesses can affect even top athletes, Mäki’s season had been particularly tough, and this setback is seen as a significant downturn in his performance trajectory.

This report highlights the unpredictable nature of high-level competitions and the impact even a slight illness can have on an athlete’s performance during major international events.