ONE WAY Athletes Earn Three Gold, Two Silver, & One Bronze Medal At Nordic World Champs
ONE WAY athletes earned three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Sweden’s Emma Ribom impressed with a sensational performance and took home the complete set of all three medals.
On the final day of the World Ski Championships, the largest cross-country ski event in the world, the Vasaloppet, was taking place in Sweden. Norwegians Emilie Fleten and Silje Øyre Slind were able to celebrate taking the top two spots.
A SWEDISH VICTORY IN SLOVENIA
The largest sporting event to ever take place in Slovenia, the 54th Nordic Ski World Championships, ran from February 21st through March 5th, 2023.
ONE WAY athletes were able to secure a total of seven medals. Most notable was Sweden’s Emma Ribom, taking the world champion title in the Team Sprint in convincing fashion, along with silver in the Sprint and a Relay bronze. ONE WAY’s second gold was won by Astrid Øyre Slind in the Relay. The 34-year-old Norwegian also impressed in the Skiathlon and earned a bronze medal.
Up-and-coming Finnish athlete Niko Anttola completed the medal haul with cross-country Relay silver. Ida Marie Hagen won gold in the Nordic Combined as part of the Norwegian Mixed Team quartet.
A DOUBLE VICTORY AT THE VASALOPPET
The 99TH running of the Vasaloppet (Vasa Race) took place in Sweden concurrently with the final day of the Nordic Ski World Championships. More than 15,000 recreational and pro-level cross-country skiers compete with each other every year at the largest ski race in the world. Participants must complete the 90K course within the target time of twelve hours. On the women’s side, Norwegians Emilie Fleten (Team Ramudden) and Silje Øyre Slind (Team Aker Daehlie) impressed with their 1-2 finish.
The 30-year-old Fleten pulled away from the field for a commanding lead to take her first Vasaloppet victory, which was also her first in a Ski Classics race. “It was a rollercoaster. I started out by crashing, then I had stomach problems and thought it was over with. But then I found some extra strength, and I’m just happy it ended up going so well,” said Emilie Fleten through tears to Swedish broadcaster SVT Sport. In second place was Silje Øyre Slind, sister of world champion Astrid Øyre Slind. She fought through a tough field to celebrate next to Fleten on the Vasa podium.
On the men’s side, Petter Stakston (Team Aker Daehlie) missed out on the podium by a mere .8 seconds in the final finish line sprint and had to settle for fourth place. Joar Thele (Team Ragde Charge) reached the line in a very respectable sixth place.
