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. A start that paved the way for a dominant World Championship gold.
It feels incredible. This is what I've been training for. So cool to have the form, the skis, and to ski like I did today, she says in the victory interview.
"Let me not be stopped"
She develops for Viaplay.
It was tough out on the track as always. I just tried to do my best and as well as I could. Cool that it was enough all the way.
Skistad was in the final, close on Sundling's heels, and refused to let go for a long time.
I knew she would do that. But I didn't let myself be stopped by that, she says.
She didn't get stressed by the Norwegian's presence either.
I decided beforehand that stress wouldn't help me anywhere. I had to try to find the calm, as my dad always says. Focused a lot on my own skiing. Then it's hard with this framework to know where everyone is.
But Sundling kept an eye on her competitors. And also on King Carl Gustaf, who was in the audience.
I saw him on the big screen at the start. So I felt like "now I'm going to go for it".
And "go for it" she did on the long straight before the curve to the finish. That's where the distance to the Norwegian was created.
Byström lyrical
National team coach Anders Byström was lyrical after Sundling's gold, her fourth consecutive championship title – three in the World Championship and one in the Olympic Games.
It's so big that she wins again. Fourth consecutive championship title 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.
Skistad's coach Lage Sofienlund was also impressed by the Swedish sprint star.
She gets everything out of herself. Jonna Sundling is on such a high level, this was "Clash of the Titans", he says to NTB.
"Disappointed"
Skistad herself was less pleased despite her first championship medal.
I've gone "all in" on this, so it's clear that I'm disappointed. It's good – but not good enough, she says to NRK.
I'd rather forget this day.
The bronze went to Swiss Nadine Fähndrich.
Maja Dahlqvist finished in fourth place but was never close to a medal.
The next race for Sundling is the skiathlon on Sunday, if she chooses to participate.
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 podiums.
Previous World Championships: 3 (2019, 2021, 2023).
Debut in the World Cup: February 15, 2015.
