Niko Anttola's Fall Continues a Sad Streak - Finnish Skiers Down for the Fifth Straight World Championships

Niko Anttola's fall continued a disheartening pattern for Finnish skiers during the men's 4x7.5 km relay, where he crashed on a steep downhill leading to the stadium. The team ultimately finished in tenth place, and Anttola acknowledged he takes full responsibility for the mishap. Over the past championships from 2017 to 2025, falls have plagued the Finnish team, which has now recorded ten such incidents.

"It happened so quickly. I don’t know what went wrong," Anttola stated somberly regarding his fall.

Teammate Ristomatti Hakola, also in attendance, expressed disappointment but emphasized moving forward together. Finland had not faced such issues in their skiing since the 2015 World Championships in Falun.

The course conditions were less than ideal, with challenging tracks leading to several tumbles, such as Martin Löwström Nyenget, who lost a medal opportunity after falling in front of the local crowd.

In the days leading up to this race, team member Jonna Sundling also fell during her competition, further contributing to the Finnish team's streak of unfortunate events,

Highlighting the gravity of their struggles, expert Ville Nousiainen noted that these challenges are not unique to Finnish skiers, as the sport's conditions have been increasingly difficult in recent competitions.

Despite these setbacks, the Finnish skiing community remains committed to strengthening their performances in future championships.