Jasmi Joensuu Held Back Tears – Furious Norwegian Expressed Even Greater Disappointment, With a Harsh Analogy from His Coach

Jasmi Joensuu was visibly emotional after the World Championship sprint in Trondheim that ended in disappointment. Although he started among the favorites in the free technique sprint, Joensuu, the top Finnish entrant in pre-race predictions, ended up finishing 9th overall after being eliminated before the final. In his post-race interview on Yle TV, he admitted that he had to hold back his tears, reflecting on his performance in the quarterfinals where he had battled fiercely and finished 5th in his heat.

During the semifinals, Joensuu maintained competitive pace, even challenging race winner Jonna Sundling from Sweden throughout the round. Joensuu expressed pride in his condition and the effort he put into the race, stating that his performance was among the best in his career, even though the results were not enough to secure a medal. He also mentioned that if he had stayed ahead of Julia Kern, he might have had a shot at the World Championship medals.

In contrast, Norwegian athlete Kristine Stavås Skistad – a previous silver medalist – was seen in a state of fury after her loss to the dominant Sundling. According to reports by Expressen and images published by NRK, Skistad was heartbroken and spent several minutes sitting in the snow, expressing her desire to forget the day. Her coach, Lage Sofienlund, made a stark remark comparing her state to someone hurling a water bottle against a wall, although he remained positive that in hindsight the experience would be remembered warmly as a sign of her growing strength in competition.

The race also saw surprise performances from other athletes, with Lauri Vuorinen unexpectedly managing to secure a bronze. The top three qualifiers in the semifinals were Jonna Sundling, Kristine Stavås Skistad, and Switzerland’s Nadine Fähndrich – a result that underscored the fierce competition on the men’s and women’s sides in the sprint event.

Joensuu, who has a lengthy career and is entering the World Championships while also leading the World Cup sprint rankings, remains optimistic. He pointed out that he still has many good races ahead and that maintaining his condition might eventually allow him to contend for medals in future competitions.

Live coverage of the World Championships can be watched directly on Yle’s channels, with live tracking available for all events.