Throughout the day, Jonna Sundling and Kristine Stavås Skistad had a duel. Likewise in the final, where the 30-year-old Swede took command from the start and could take a dominant World Championship gold.
It feels incredible. This is what I've been training for. So fun to have the form, the skis, and to ski like I did today, she says in the victory interview.
"I didn't let myself be stopped"
She develops in the interview with Viaplay.
It was tough out on the track as always. I just tried to do my best and as well as I could. Fun that it was enough all the way.
Skistad was in the final close on Sundling's heels in the beginning and refused to let go.
I knew she would do that. But I didn't let myself be stopped by that, she says in Viaplay.
She didn't get stressed either by the Norwegian's presence.
I decided before that stress doesn't help me anywhere. I have to try to find the calm that my dad always says. Focused a lot on my own skiing. Then it gets difficult with this framework to know where everyone is.
But Sundling had control over the competitors. And also over King Carl Gustaf, who was present in the audience.
I saw him on the big screen at the start. So I felt "now I have to go for it".
Byström lyrical
National team manager Anders Byström was lyrical after Sundling's gold, her fourth consecutive championship – three in the World Championship and one in the Olympic Games.
It's so big that she wins again. Fourth consecutive championship and in enemy territory against Skistad. Completely crazy, and I'm so happy for Jonna's sake that she gets to win here, he says to Viaplay.
The bronze went to the Swiss Nadine Fähndrich.
Maja Dahlqvist finished in fourth place but was never close to a medal.
Born: December 28, 1994 (30 years old) in Umeå.
Club: Piteå Elit.
Main merits: World Championship gold in sprint 2021, 2023, and 2025, World Championship gold in sprint relay 2021 and 2023. Olympic Games gold in sprint 2022. Olympic Games silver in sprint relay and Olympic Games bronze in relay 2022. Gold in sprint at the Junior World Championship 2014, gold in sprint at the U23 World Championship 2016. Silver in sprint at the Youth Olympic Games 2012. Twelve individual victories in the World Cup. A total of 39 individual podium places.
Previous World Championships: 3 (2019, 2021, 2023).
Debut in the World Cup: February 15, 2015.
