Iivo Niskanen's Incredible World Championship Form: A New Sign – Expert Amazed by 'Too Many' Finns

During a recent world championship weekend in Falun, Finnish experts and commentators gathered in the sports studio to discuss a series of exciting developments in Nordic skiing. Iivo Niskanen sparked considerable buzz by smashing a decades-old curse at the traditional ski venue, becoming only the third Finnish male legend—joining Harri Kirvesniemi and Veikko Hakulinen—to win on this stage. Niskanen’s first-place finish in the classic 10 km race on the paraatimatka route has raised expectations for his performance at the upcoming MM (World Championship) event in Trondheim, scheduled to begin in just over two weeks.

In a related highlight, biathlete Suvi Minkkinen ended an eight-year medal drought by clinching a bronze on a sprint course, and she later secured a sixth-place finish in a pursuit event. Yle’s winter sports experts, including Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and Kaisa Mäkäräinen, praised both performances while also drawing attention to a surprising tenth-place finish by Remi Lindholm. Lindholm’s result was particularly notable given his season-long struggles and a collision incident with Norway’s Jan Thomas Jenssen.

The discussion also touched on the overall Finnish team performance. While there were no outright flops, some athletes like Anne Kyllönen, Lauri Vuorinen, and Perttu Hyvärinen did not meet pre-race expectations. In contrast, expectations are high for the relays: Saarinen sees a strong medal chance in Trondheim with teams led by Jasmi Joensuu, Kerttu Niskanen, Vilma Ryyty, and Krista Pärmäkoski.

Elsewhere, during the biathlon championship, Joel Holma was given the honor to paint the shooting targets, adding extra flair to the opening weekend of the World Championships. The Finnish Nordic skiing stars are now preparing to take on Trondheim, with many anticipating that the excellent condition and form showcased in Falun will translate into medal-winning performances at the upcoming MM events.