Svahn 'slays' in final Sprint to seal double as Dahlqvist secures Globe

Linn Svahn (SWE) won the final Sprint of the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup 2025/26 season on Saturday, completing a perfect weekend with two victories in Lake Placid, USA.

The 26-year-old, who claimed the Women’s 10km Interval Start Free on Friday, continued her outstanding form by securing her eighth podium of the season and her fourth victory, crossing the line 0.46 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonna Sundling (SWE) in the Women’s Sprint Free.

“It’s really nice to compete with such a good crowd. It really gives a boost of motivation this last weekend,” Svahn said.

Since winning the Sprint title at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Svahn has made six World Cup starts, winning three and finishing second in the other three.

Maja Dahlqvist (SWE) completed an all-Swedish podium, 1.54 seconds behind Svahn, and secured the Sprint Crystal Globe.

Svahn set the fastest time in the qualification and comfortably won her quarter-final. In the semi-final, however, she and Sundling appeared in control before Svahn found herself at the back of the group entering the final stretch. With a late surge, she managed to finish second and qualify for the final.

“I felt like I was a bit bad in the semi, when I was the last down into the final stretch,” Svahn said.

“So my plan (in the final) was to not be last into the final stretch and to just go for it.”

In the final, Svahn and Sundling stayed at the front for most of the race and, just like in the Sprint Classic final at Milano Cortina 2026, Sundling could not respond to Svahn’s finishing sprint as the podium order was repeated.

“It’s nice to do a good last Sprint (of the season) here, so I’m really happy. And I’m really happy with the triple again,” Svahn said.

Dahlqvist had led the Sprint standings going into Saturday, holding 720 points—just 12 ahead of teammate Johanna Hagstroem (SWE). Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich, racing the final Sprint of her career, also remained in contention in third place with 700 points.

All three Crystal Globe contenders lined up in the same semi-final, where Dahlqvist received a yellow card for a false start. At the restart, Faehndrich pushed early to take the lead, but Dahlqvist responded to win the heat, with Faehndrich second. Hagstroem finished fourth and advanced as a lucky loser.

In the final, Hagstroem found herself near the back early on, ahead of Germany’s Coletta Rydzek, who was quickly dropped. Dahlqvist knew that finishing ahead of Faehndrich would be enough to secure the title. Faehndrich held third place behind Svahn and Sundling for most of the race but was overtaken by Dahlqvist on the home straight, dropping off the podium.

The 31-year-old Swede raised her arms in celebration as she crossed the line to claim her third Sprint Crystal Globe, having previously won in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Dahlqvist finished the season with 814 points, recording eight top-five results and four podiums—all third places.

Hagstroem secured second place in the Sprint standings with 798 points, five ahead of Faehndrich in third. It was the retiring Swiss Sprint specialist's fourth time on a Sprint podium.

Sundling (750 points) and Svahn (727 points), with four and three Sprint wins respectively, finished fourth and fifth overall.

The season concludes with the 20km Mass Start Free on Sunday, where Svahn will aim to end her 2025/26 campaign with a third consecutive victory in Lake Placid.

“I’ll try,” she said.

“But I know that the competition is tough and I’m starting to get tired—but we’ll see. I’ll try to slay one more time.”

Click here for full results from the Women’s Sprint Free, here to see the Women’s Sprint Standings and here to follow FIS Cross-Country on Youtube.