Gold for Karlsson! Teresa Stadlober finishes eleventh in women's cross-country skiing

Gold for Karlsson! Teresa Stadlober finishes eleventh in women's cross-country skiing

In the closing race of the Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim, Teresa Stadlober did not compete for a medal in the women's 50 km cross-country skiing event. On Sunday, in challenging track conditions, the athlete from Salzburg finished in eleventh place. The gold medal was won by Sweden's Frida Karlsson, who triumphed in a decisive sprint at the finish ahead of Norwegian rivals Heidi Weng and Therese Johaug.

Stadlober faced tough conditions, stating, "The conditions were unbelievable; I have never experienced anything like this. Of course, I would have liked to compete better, but these conditions are not for me. It was a fierce battle, a mental struggle." She emphasized that giving up was not an option, despite the challenges she faced.

In snowy rain and extremely deep tracks, 34 competitors started the final day of the championships. Stadlober had to relinquish the lead after only eight kilometers of racing. In front of 30,000 fans at the Granåsen Stadium, a top quartet dictated the pace, featuring local stars Johaug and Weng, who stayed close to fierce Swedish rivals throughout the race. In a dramatic finish, the defending champion and triple-world champion Johaug experienced a fall following a collision with Karlsson, allowing Karlsson to pull ahead decisively on the final climb to the finish line.

With this victory, Karlsson marked her third world championship gold, her first in an individual race. Johaug remained unable to secure gold, having placed second in previous races at home. Stadlober, who narrowly missed a medal with a fourth-place finish in the 10 km classic race earlier, finished the skating event almost ten minutes behind the leader. The dream of a medal was thwarted early on for the 32-year-old athlete. Last Saturday, Mika Vermeulen finished ninth in the 50 km race, during the sixth gold gala of ski superstar Johannes Hösflot Kläbo.