Nordic World Championships: Cross-Country Skier Gimmler Misses the Start

German cross-country skier Laura Gimmler is set to miss the opening event of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim. The 31‐year-old sprint specialist from Oberstdorf was scheduled to start in the freestyle sprint on Thursday, February 27, 2025, but has had to withdraw due to health problems. This is particularly disappointing for Gimmler, who had just celebrated her first individual podium finish at the World Cup race in Cogne in January.

Team chief Peter Schlickenrieder explained that, in order to minimize the risk of contagion, the team is strictly adhering to hygiene protocols — wearing masks, practicing thorough hygiene, and re-establishing a protective bubble. He noted that these precautions, although not pleasant, are essential given that an outbreak has affected almost the entire sprint team with several athletes suffering from fever. Coletta Rydzek, for instance, is still not at full strength after a recent illness, and the situation has been a bitter blow for Gimmler who was in excellent form prior to her withdrawal.

Off the track, the German team is also facing logistical problems. Forty missing pieces of luggage have forced the athletes to improvise after their arrival, although they managed to conduct training nonetheless. In a relaxed tone, Schlickenrieder mentioned that what used to be a dramatic ordeal now only calls for a quick move from room to room.

In another surprising twist at the Championships, multi-talented athlete Celine Marti from Haiti started the qualification race over 7.5 km with the bib number 1. At 45 years old, Marti is making her debut in cross-country skiing after participating in alpine skiing events at the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, while also representing Haiti in a sport where she is not traditionally expected to be a medal contender.

With the women’s and men’s sprints scheduled to start on Thursday—one of 25 events at the Championships—the German team now seems to be banking its medal hopes largely on the team events rather than individual races.