One of the biggest stars ahead of the World Championships in Trondheim has announced that he is ill, putting his participation in jeopardy.

Finnish medal hopeful Iivo Niskanen has caught the flu just before the World Championships in Trondheim. The illness struck after the competitions in Falun, Sweden.

“Unfortunately, the flu came as a gift from Sweden. On Sunday evening, when I was traveling home, I already felt a bit off, and at the beginning of the week, the illness hit,” he told Ilta-Sanomat.

The World Championships in Trondheim start on February 26, and Niskanen’s first planned race was set for March 1. He is now isolated and has already confirmed that he will miss it.

“We’re taking recovery day by day now, but I can already say with certainty that I won’t be racing in Saturday’s skiathlon in Trondheim.”

It remains to be seen whether he will be healthy enough by March 4 to compete in the 10-kilometer classic event, the same distance he won when the World Cup was held in Falun a few weeks ago.

See below the complete program for the World Championships in Trondheim, Norway.

FACTS 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships

• When: Wednesday, February 26, to Sunday, March 9, 2025 
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Trondheim, Norway
• What: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2025

Wednesday, February 26 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Qualification, Classic – Women 10km
• Cross-country: Qualification, Classic – Men 10km

Thursday, February 27 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Sprint Qualification and Finals, Free – Women
• Cross-country: Sprint Qualification and Finals, Free – Men

Saturday, March 1 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Skiathlon – Men 10km/10km

Sunday, March 2 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Skiathlon – Women 10km/10km

Tuesday, March 4 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Classic – Men 10km
• Cross-country: Classic – Women 10km
• Para: Sprint Qualification, Classic – Women
• Para: Sprint Qualification, Classic – Men

Wednesday, March 5 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Team Sprint, Classic – Women
• Cross-country: Team Sprint, Classic – Men

Thursday, March 6 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Relay Men 4×7.5km

Friday, March 7 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Relay Women 4×7.5km

Saturday, March 8 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Mass Start, Free – Men 50km

Sunday, March 9 (More information HERE)

• Cross-country: Mass Start, Free – Women 50km

PROGRAM (traditional cross-country skiing program) 

The Nordic World Ski Championships will take place in Trondheim, Norway, from February 26 to March 9, 2025. It promises to be the largest sporting event in Norway in 15 years, with more than 300.000 spectators expected to attend. 

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