Arsi Ruuskanen emerged as Finland’s top male cross-country skier during the Olympic season, broke into the World Cup elite, and proved in major championships that he belongs among the world’s best distance skiers

Arsi Ruuskanen emerged clearly as the leading Finnish male cross-country skier over the past season. The skier from Siilinjärvi is still in a developmental phase of his career, but the 2025–2026 season showed that he has taken a significant step toward the international top level.

Ruuskanen won the U23 World Championship title in Lygnan in 2022, claiming gold in the 15-kilometer classical race. His rise toward the top has been steady and consistent. He first broke into the top ten in the World Cup by finishing eighth in the 20-kilometer freestyle race in Davos in December 2022. In 2024, he placed ninth in the legendary Tour de Ski final climb up Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme. In December 2025, he matched his career-best result with another eighth-place finish in the 10-kilometer freestyle race in Trondheim. All of this laid the foundation for a season that brought him closer to the very top.

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Olympics lifted Ruuskanen to a new level

Ruuskanen delivered his strongest performance of the season at the winter’s main event, the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. He was the best Finnish skier in the skiathlon, finishing 11th, which highlighted his versatility and consistency.

His biggest success came in the 50-kilometer classical race, where he finished seventh. The result was significant from a Finnish perspective and showed that he belongs among the international elite even on the sport’s most prestigious distance. The race showcased his endurance, tactical intelligence, and ability to pace himself effectively.

Career-best performances in the World Cup

After the Olympics, Ruuskanen maintained his strong form in the World Cup. In Falun in March 2026, he achieved a career-best result by finishing sixth in the 20-kilometer skiathlon, marking a clear breakthrough close to the top tier.

Just a week later, at the World Cup in Lahti, he placed fourth in the 10-kilometer classical race. He narrowly missed the podium, but the result was a strong indication of his improvement, especially in classical technique.

These performances showed that Ruuskanen’s level has risen permanently. He is no longer just a top-ten skier but is capable of challenging the world’s best from race to race, making him one of Finland’s most promising future success stories in cross-country skiing.

The season did not carry through to the finish

However, the season did not end at the same high level. In the Finnish National Championships, his results were modest toward the end of the season, which may indicate accumulated fatigue over a long campaign. In the season-ending 50-kilometer race, he finished only ninth, trailing the winner Alexander Ståhlberg by 3 minutes and 37 seconds.

At the same time, this underlines Ruuskanen’s profile as a big-event performer who is capable of delivering his best in the most important competitions. National championships may not ignite the same level of performance as major championships and international events. This bodes well for the future, especially with the upcoming World Championships in Falun, where the long-distance race will be contested in freestyle, a style that suits Ruuskanen well.

From free technique specialist to complete distance skier

Ruuskanen has long been known as a strong skater. His skating technique is efficient, and he can maintain a high pace even in long-distance races.

This season, however, showed clear improvement in classical technique. He is no longer just a skating specialist but can compete at a high level in both styles. This was particularly evident in the Olympic 50-kilometer race as well as in his top performances in Lahti and Falun.

With this development, Ruuskanen has become a strong all-around distance skier capable of succeeding in varied competitions and on different types of courses.

A new leading name in Finnish men’s skiing

Overall, Ruuskanen’s season was a clear breakthrough, even though he did not reach the podium in the Olympics or the World Cup. He moved close to the world elite in major championships, established himself in top-level World Cup races, and developed into a more complete skier.

Over the course of the season, he was Finland’s best male skier overall, reflecting a broader transition in Finnish men’s cross-country skiing. Iivo Niskanen remains the country’s top name in classical technique and a podium-level athlete, but two major championships have already been affected by illness. Ruuskanen’s development now suggests that in the coming years, he has the potential to compete for the very top positions in major events—and possibly take over the leading role in Finnish men’s skiing.

You can also read cross-country ski articles on langd.se and langrenn.com.