Johaug Takes World Silver After Tense Photo Finish – Defeated by Swedish Rival Again

In a gripping race filled with tension and skill, Therese Johaug once again found herself second behind her Swedish rival, Ebba Andersson at the 2025 Ski World Championships in Granåsen. The two athletes pushed themselves to the limits, resulting in a nail-biting finish that saw Johaug just 1.3 seconds behind Andersson, who claimed her second consecutive World Championship gold.

As the race commenced under heavy snowfall, many athletes, including Johaug, struggled with the conditions, particularly as they approached the finish line. After a challenging 10-kilometer course, experts criticized the state of the track, especially the finish area. Martin Johnsrud Sundby, an NRK skiing expert, noted that incoming athletes faced remarkably poor conditions on the final stretch, complicating their performance.

Johaug echoed these sentiments, expressing her shock at the discrepancy between the racing conditions throughout the trail compared to the turmoil at the finish. Despite this setback, she remains optimistic about her chances in the upcoming 5-kilometer race, asserting that her goal remains clear as she tries to secure her first title in this comeback season.

Andersson, too, reflected on the intense finish, describing the challenges encountered as unfavorable for all racers. Despite the back-and-forth between the two competitors, both showed remarkable sportsmanship, as Johaug congratulated Andersson at the end of the race.

The day concluded with mixed results from other competitors, with Sweden's Frida Karlsson taking the bronze medal and Heidi Weng securing fifth place, demonstrating the competitive nature of cross-country skiing at this year’s World Championships.