Swedish Skiers Dominate Ruka, Hagstrom Scores Stunning Victory
The snowy slopes of Ruka, Finland witnessed a spectacular Swedish ski sprint dominance this weekend. Frida Karlsson kicked off the winning streak on Friday, followed by a blue-yellow one-two punch on Saturday.
The women’s sprint final was a Swedish showcase, with Jonna Sundling, Maja Dahlqvist, and Johanna Hagström battling for the top three spots. Hagström, in a stunning display of strength and skill, surged ahead in the final climb, securing her first-ever World Cup victory.
"I can’t believe it. It feels crazy," a tearful Hagström said in a post-race interview. "I had such a good day and I really like Ruka and that last mountain. It was all or nothing. I’m in shock!"
Hagström, reflecting on the race’s pivotal moment, continued, "I was surprised that I was the first one up the mountain and just thought ‘Johanna, don’t blow this now’. This means a lot to me."
Norway’s Julie Myhre claimed second place, while Sundling finished just off the podium in fourth. Dahlqvist rounded out the Swedish medal haul with a bronze finish.
Unfortunately, Swedish standout Linn Svahn, who qualified fastest, experienced a dramatic exit in the quarterfinals after a jarring crash. Frida Karlsson also bowed out in the quarterfinals, while Emma Ribom had to withdraw from the finals due to back problems.
On the men’s side, Sweden’s Marcus Grate fought valiantly and placed sixth in the final, where Norway’s Johannes Klaebo delivered a dominant win, followed by countryman Erik Valnes and Finland’s Lauri Vuorinen.
2024-11-30 12:02:00
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