Medal Candidate Erik Valnes Withdraws from World Championship Sprint Due to Injury: ‘The Pain Will Hinder Erik’

Erik Valnes, a medal favorite in sprint events at the 2025 World Championships, will not be racing in the sprint after suffering a back injury during training. According to team doctor Ove Feragen, a sudden sharp pain – described as a kink or acute back pain – forced Valnes to interrupt his training session. This incident occurred during a session where he was touted as the main rival to Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Valnes, who previously secured a silver medal in the 2021 World Championship sprint and experienced success in team sprint events alongside Klæbo at both the 2021 World Championships and the 2022 Olympic Games, was considered a strong candidate to challenge for gold in sprint, as well as in the 10-kilometer and relay events.

After his training run, Valnes was seen speaking briefly with national team coach Arild Monsen before leaving the facility. Despite downplaying the severity when questioned, his visible distress indicated that the injury is serious enough to rule him out of the sprint race. Expert Fredrik Aukland described the incident as a "nightmare start" for Valnes, noting that a muscle strain in the back could take several days to recover from.

The accident has led to Valnes being replaced by reserve Ansgar Evensen for the sprint. While it remains uncertain if Valnes will recover in time to participate in upcoming events, the medical staff is hopeful that his condition will stabilize within the next few days. The broader Norwegian team remains confident in their depth and talent ahead of the championships.

This unfortunate development marks a significant blow for Valnes, who had high expectations riding on his recent performances in world cup events. Fans and commentators alike are watching closely to see if he can bounce back from this setback in what promised to be a stellar championship run on home soil in Trondheim at Granåsen.