She started as number 90, feared one skier more than all the others, and then it became a thriller all the way to the final meters. The Norwegian Championships gold was decided by four-tenths of a second and may have secured her Olympic dream.

She has raced in the World Cup for several years and won a World Championship medal. But the Norwegian Championships gold is only her second senior victory. It came just in time in more ways than one.

“I’ve never won the Norwegian Cup, I’ve never won the Scan Cup. I’ve actually won very little as a senior,” Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs told Langrenn.com after winning Norwegian Championships gold.

The newly crowned Norwegian champion was both proud and relieved after the 10-kilometer race at the Norwegian Championships in Steinkjer. The race turned into a thriller to the finish line, with just four-tenths separating the top athletes after a race in which four skiers took turns leading.

“It’s huge, and it means a lot. I’ve only won one ski race as a senior before. That was the U23 World Championships. So, this is my second victory as a senior,” she says, and continues:

“It’s incredibly fun to race at the Norwegian Championships. For me, it’s something very special. It’s a national championship weekend. I remember watching the Norwegian Championships on TV when I was little, and as a junior, I got to race the relay, which was one of the most fun things you could do. It was a big deal.”

Just in time

The timing of the second victory of her career could hardly have been better. First of all, it all but seals an Olympic spot, even though the official selection will not be announced until next week.

After a solid start to the season, Fosnæs had a tough Tour de Ski. The Norwegian Championships gold, therefore, came as a much-needed boost ahead of what will most likely be her first Olympic Games, not least mentally.

“I was feeling pretty down during the Tour de Ski and didn’t recognize my body. So being able to reset, come back here, and win means a lot for my confidence. It was good for the soul,” says Fosnæs.

Drama to the line

Fosnæs started as number 90, the third-to-last starter. That meant she had almost all the times to chase, except the one she feared the most.

“I had her (Karoline Grøtting) starting behind me, so I didn’t know if I could hold on. I felt a bit dark when I was behind Nora, so I just had to dig deep and ski as hard as I could. But I’m very happy that it was enough,” Fosnæs told Langrenn.com.

“I didn’t think I had a winner’s mentality.”

Norwegian Championships 2026 Steinkjer – Results

Top 3 women, 10km freestyle

1. Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, Fossum IF, 26:15.0
2. Karoline Grøtting, Strandbygda IL/Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør, +0.4
3. Nora Sanness, Kjelsås IL / National Team, +1.5

Complete results

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