Astrid Øyre Slind’s Olympic dream collapsed. Now she is skipping the World Cup. “I’m going to show that I can still ski fast,” she says ahead of Sunday’s Vasaloppet.

Astrid Øyre Slind was a major favorite for victory in the Olympic 50km in Val di Fiemme but dropped out after just 10 kilometers. Now she has shaken off the disappointment and wants immediate redemption.

“I’m motivated now to show that I can still ski fast,” she says.

Also Read: Olympic dreams that fell short in Milano-Cortina 2026

Out of contention in the Olympic 50km

The 38-year-old was forced to abandon the Olympic 50km just 10 kilometers after the start. By then, she was already more than a minute behind the lead group.

Afterward, she was disappointed, devastated, and angry. While her body felt in top form, Slind’s skis were poor. She chose to use less kick wax than the other Norwegian skiers and struggled already on the first climb out of the start. That makes 50 kilometers very long.

“I’ve felt better before. It’s not fun when the goal of the season, or your life, falls apart like this,” she told NRK as tears welled up.

“There was this one chance.”

Beside her stood her mother, Ingrid Øyre, trying to comfort her.

“I can’t handle too much sympathy, because then I just start crying,” Slind said.

Seeking immediate redemption

Astrid Øyre Slind returned home from the Milano-Cortina Olympics with a sixth place and two fourth places, in addition to relay gold. Fourth places were not what she came for.

But she is quick to reset. Already the day after the 50km disappointment, she had put the Olympics behind her.

“Tomorrow I’ll start training for Vasaloppet. It’s on Sunday,” Slind said after landing at Værnes on Monday.

With one day’s distance from the Olympic 50km, Slind believes that the defeat in what was meant to be the most important race of her life makes it easier to reset. She is hungry.

“I’m motivated now to show that I can still ski fast,” Slind says.

Can make history

Astrid Øyre Slind also holds the Vasaloppet course record. It dates from 2022 and stands at 3:50:06.

Vasaloppet will be held for the 102nd time on Sunday, March 1. If she wins this year, she could write her name into a very exclusive list.

That also means Astrid Øyre Slind is skipping next weekend’s World Cup round in Falun, where the sprint and skiathlon are scheduled. Norway’s team selection for the first round of the World Cup after the Olympics will be announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Read More: Vasaloppet – Sweden’s Grand Classics highlights the Season XVII calendar

Next up is Vasaloppet, taking place on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The event marks the seventh Ski Classics Pro Tour stage and the third Grand Classics of Season XVII.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

Season XVII of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 13 events across 9 event weekends in 6 countries. 

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 47km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Moena-Cavalese, Italy, 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com

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