Nadja Kälin from the Engadine comes an outstanding 4th in the 20 km skiathlon at the Olympic Games in Val di Fiemme. Gold goes to Frida Karlsson from Sweden.
07.02.2026, 14:04
07.02.2026, 23:53
SDA
As at the World Championships in Trondheim a year ago, where she came sixth, Nadja Kälin showed an outstanding race. The 24-year-old from the Engadine switched to skating skis after the halfway point in seventh place and was even able to flirt a little with a sensational medal.
Astrid Slind, who had been in third place for a long time, fell back, but it was another Norwegian, Heidi Weng, who was able to benefit. In the end, however, Kälin was the strongest of the chasing pack and finished solo in fourth place. She was just 25 seconds short of the first Olympic medal for a Swiss cross-country skier in an individual race. Only Christina Gilli-Brügger was as good in an Olympic race over 20 km in 1988. In 2002, the women's relay team won bronze.
Winning 4th place
At the finish line, Kälin is completely satisfied. "They always say that 4th place is the first loser," she explains. "But I definitely won 4th place." When a trio pulled away in the classic section, she made sure that she found shelter in the chasing group. In the second half, she only briefly tried to fight for bronze. "Then I sensed that Weng was too strong. If I had followed her, it would have completely taken me out."
Amazing: Nadja Kälin has never been better than seventh in the World Cup, but has now finished fourth and sixth at the Olympics and World Championships. Nadja's sister Marina, who is two years younger, also had a strong race in nineteenth place. Anja Weber came 25th and Fabienne Alder 46th.
Swedish double victory
The gold and silver medals were not unexpectedly won by the outstanding Swedish women. Frida Karlsson, last year's 50 km world champion, came out on top 51 seconds ahead of 10 km world champion Ebba Andersson.
World Cup leader Jessie Diggins from the USA dropped out of the decision after a fall on the first lap. Although she skated strongly as usual in the skating part, it was not enough for more than 8th place.
