Skari claims U23 Sprint gold after Vike fall

Filip Skari (NOR) won the Men’s Sprint Free gold medal at the FIS U23 World Ski Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, on Tuesday, giving the home fans something to cheer about after favourite Oskar Opstad Vike (NOR) fell.

Vike, 22, who claimed a Sprint bronze medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games last month, set the fastest time in the qualification before winning both his quarter-final and semi-final, looking like the man to beat in the gold medal race.

As the pace picked up in the final, Vike took the lead and continued to extend the gap, with Skari and Erik Bergstroem (SWE) right behind him. At the end of the last steep downhill section before the home straight, however, Vike lost his balance and fell.

Skari, who had stayed behind his compatriot for the entire race, took over the lead and cruised to victory.

“I wanted to go for the gold today and I did very well, so I’m happy with my performance,” Skari said.

The 21-year-old had made only five starts in the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup, his best result being an eighth place in the Sprint Free in Oberhof, Germany, in January. He was disqualified for obstruction in the first round of the Sprint in Falun, Sweden, on Saturday, and said he could not fully enjoy the victory after his teammate's fall.

“I did a great race, but I’m not able to be happy today because I was not the best,” he said.

“I feel really sad for Oskar, because he’s such a great guy and he was the best today. It is a gold, but… I’m sorry.”

Vike, who did not finish the race, made his World Cup debut in November 2024 and has reached the podium four times.

“He’s shown everyone this year,” Skari said.

Elias Keck (GER) made a strong push in the final stretch and clinched the silver medal, 1.11 seconds behind the winner. Keck, 22, whose best World Cup results are two seventh places in Team Sprints, had been fourth in his semi-final and qualified as a lucky loser.

“I didn’t expect it, actually,” Keck said about his result.

“I didn’t feel that good in the beginning, but my shape came in the final, so that was good for me.”

His tactic had been “to stay at the front from the beginning”.

“It didn’t work in every round, but in the last one it was pretty good, so I’m happy with that,” he said.

Roman Alder (SUI) completed the podium, 2.50 seconds behind Skari.

“It was a crazy Sprint and it feels really, really good to have a medal to my name,” Alder said.

The 21-year-old is approaching 20 World Cup starts, with a 13th place in the Oberhof Sprint this season as his best result.

“I guess I was quite confident that I can do good prologues, but in the World Cup I’ve never made it past the quarter-finals. Today I said to myself, ‘Semi-finals for sure’,” Alder said.

“After the prologue I thought a final was possible. And as we have seen in finals, everything is possible.”

Alder and his sister, Fabienne Alder (SUI), had their family in the stands.

Henriksson takes gold ahead of Norwegian duo

In the Women’s Sprint Free final, Sweden’s Elin Henriksson spoiled the party for the host nation as she claimed the gold medal ahead of Norway’s Mina Sofie Kjaeraas Moland and Helene Ekrheim Haugen.

Henriksson had only the ninth-best time in qualification but went on to win three straight heats to take the victory.

“It’s lovely. I feel so happy, it’s just great,” said Henriksson, who finished 19th in the Falun World Cup Sprint Free on Saturday.

“I don’t know if I’m in good shape or not. I just have to put everything out on the course.”

Moland took an early lead in the final, with Henriksson settling into a comfortable position right behind her. On the last big climb, the Swede drew level with the home skier and moved ahead over the top. In the final 400m, Moland chased, spurred on by the home crowd, but never managed to pass the 22-year-old.

Henriksson crossed the line 0.20 seconds ahead of the Norwegian, upgrading her Sprint Classic bronze medal from last year’s U23 World Championships in Schilpario, Italy, to gold.

“I just went blind and went after her,” Henriksson said of her tactics.

“Then I did my best on the last uphill and it was a really tight fight over the final curve, so it was great to be first over the hill.”

Moland was far from disappointed about the silver medal.

“It feels very good,” the 22-year-old said.

“My whole team was here cheering for me and they gave me that extra push all the way today, so I’m so happy.”

She has trained on the Lillehammer tracks for the past six years.

“I’ve been on these tracks many times,” Moland said.

“But it was only two days ago that I got the message that I was racing today, so it’s extra good to deliver a strong race.”

Haugen, 21, has made two World Cup starts, with a 17th place in the Sprint Classic in Goms, Switzerland, in January as her best result.

“It was very hard,” she said after making it two Norwegians on the podium.

“The start was a little tricky, but I managed to get a good position before the downhill, so that helped.”

Moland and Haugen hope to make the Norwegian team for the home World Cup stage in Drammen on 12 March.

“If it was up to me, of course. But I really hope so,” Haugen said about her participation.

The FIS Junior and U23 World Ski Championships continue on Wednesday with the Men’s and Women’s Junior 20km Mass Start Free.

Click here for full Lillehammer 2026 schedule and results, and here to follow FIS Cross-Country on Youtube.