Astrid Øyre Slind started as a medal contender in the 10-kilometer race, but came up just short when it mattered most. Afterwards, her verdict was clear: she didn’t have enough.

Frida Karlsson was in a class of her own in Thursday’s 10-kilometer, winning by 46.6 seconds and taking her second straight Olympic gold. Behind her, Ebba Andersson, Jessie Diggins, and Astrid Øyre Slind battled to the line for the rest of the podium.

Also Read: Swedish superstar powers to 10km freestyle gold at Milano-Cortina 2026

Øyre Slind went out hard and was closest to Karlsson early on. A couple of kilometers later, she was in third but struggled more in the latter half of the race. That’s where the medal slipped away.

Afterwards, the 38-year-old from Oppdal found little consolation in being the best Norwegian.

“It’s annoying. There are not many chances in life,” Øyre Slind told NRK after finishing fourth, and added:

“I would have liked to have been three seconds better.”

When asked what kept her from that level, she said:

“I guess I’m too poor. I’m four seconds too poor. That’s where it lies. Jessie (Diggins) was skiing with broken ribs.”

For her part, she doesn’t see where she could have picked up those final seconds and was clearly disappointed.

“I felt like I managed my pacing well, and I did what I could. But I wasn’t good enough,” Øyre Slind said.

In the opening 20-kilometer skiathlon, Øyre Slind was sixth, nearly two minutes behind Karlsson and half a minute behind bronze medalist Heidi Weng. In Thursday’s 10-kilometer race, she beat Weng and became the best Norwegian. But she found little joy in that result.

“Fourth, sixth, or tenth place. It doesn’t matter. Medals are what count in championships,” Øyre Slind said.

Now, Øyre Slind is trying to reset and look ahead to the rest of the championship.

“I feel like I’m actually in decent shape. We have four in the top nine, so we have good chances in the relay. It’s an incredible team effort. Now we have to prepare for tomorrow and take with us that the body is actually good,” she said.

Together with Weng, she is Norway’s presumed strongest card in the 50-kilometer. But with the form Karlsson has shown, Øyre Slind thinks gold will be hard to reach:

“It’s clear that she is in good shape. If she doesn’t get sick, then there will probably be another gold for her there. I believe that I can win a medal, but I believed that today too. It didn’t work,” she said.)

After Thursday’s 10-kilometer, three events remain for the cross-country skiers: the relay on Saturday, the team sprint on Wednesday, February 18, and the 50-kilometer on Sunday, February 22.

FACTS 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games – Cross-Country Skiing

• When: Saturday 7, to Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Val di Fiemme, Italy
• What: Milano-Cortina 2026

Saturday, February 7: 20km Skiathlon C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Women

Sunday, February 8: 20km Skiathlon C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Men

Tuesday, February 10: Sprint C Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women
• 9:55 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Thursday, February 12: 10km Interval Start F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval F, Men

Saturday, February 14: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Women

Sunday, February 15: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Team Sprint Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, February 21: 50km Mass Start C Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, February 22: 50km Mass Start C Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Val di Fiemme, a classic Nordic skiing venue, promises thrilling racing on courses steeped in Olympic history. Fans around the World will have the chance to cheer on athletes across all distances, from explosive sprints to grueling marathons.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.