Niko Anttola Wins Youth World Championship Silver – See How He Beat the Norwegian in a Tough Finish

Niko Anttola won a silver medal in the 20km mass start classic race at the Under-23 World Championships. The race, held in Italy’s Schilpario, came down to a battle between four athletes. In the final sprint, Norway’s Mathias Holbæk managed to pull away and claimed the gold medal by a margin of 4.5 seconds, with Germany’s Elias Keck finishing fourth.

“I am truly happy. Mathias was simply too strong today,” Anttola said in a live broadcast by the International Ski Federation (FIS). “Thanks to the support staff and the entire team. It was a good day for the team. Thank you to everyone who was there today.”

Anttola has been on a roll recently. In 2023, he won gold in the 10km freestyle interval start event at the Under-20 Championships and took silver in the 20km classic race at Whistler, Canada. He also played a key role in anchoring the Finnish men to a team silver at the senior World Championships that same year. A year earlier in Lygn, Norway, he earned a bronze medal in the 10km classic interval start race.

In today’s race, other Finnish competitors also took part, with Alexander Ståhlberg finishing 13th, Eero Rantala 25th, and Niilo Mäkinen 35th. Over the past three years at the Under-23 World Championships, Finland has secured three medals: last year Hilla Niemelä won silver in the women’s sprint in Planica, two years ago Jasmin Kähärä claimed gold in the sprint at Whistler, and three years ago Arsi Ruuskanen earned gold in the 15km race in Lygn.

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