It’s always nervous ahead of the first race in the Olympics. What kind of race will it be? Can the sprinters hang on till the finish? Are the long-distance specialists going to break the field into pieces? 

There are many questions, and a lot can happen in a 20km skiathlon race. 

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

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

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT TODAY’S RACE 

Skiathlon has been raced in different formats in the history of cross-country skiing. In the beginning, it was organized over two days, with an individual race on the first day and a pursuit start on the second day. Since 2003, it has been a skiathlon at the World championships in one race with changing skis halfway, but then as a 15km.  

Today they are racing 20km, while women and men run the same distance. 

The race starts with a mass start. The first 10km are done using the classic technique. After that, the athletes go into the changing zone where their skis and skating pools are ready in their boxes. After that, they will skate 10km.  

The first racer crossing the finish line is the winner. And that’s often a specialist in skating because it is the last part of the race. But from time to time, we also see the strongest classical racers go away and open a gap they can hold all the way to the finish. 

It’s essential to be quick also when you change your skis. If you have problems with your bindings, the skis are gliding away, or similar incidents, you will quickly lose valuable seconds and may lose contact with the group you were in before entering the changing zone. 

Women’s pursuit in the Winter Olympics was first held in 1992. The event has been changed repeatedly over the years.  

• 1992–1998: 10-kilometer freestyle pursuit based on a 5-kilometer classical event. 
• 2002: 5-kilometer freestyle pursuit based on a 5-kilometer classical event. 
• 2006: 7.5-kilometer classical followed by a change to freestyle gear; then 7.5-kilometer freestyle. It’s been named the 15-kilometer skiathlon since 2014.  

FORMER OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (different distances) 

• 1992 – Albertville: 10km freestyle pursuit – Lyubov Yegorova EUN (Unified Team)  
• 1994 – Lillehammer: 10km freestyle pursuit – Lyubov Yegorova RUS  
• 1998 – Nagano: No separate pursuit event
• 2002 – Salt Lake City: No separate pursuit exercise 
• 2006 – Torino: 15km pursuit – Kristina Šmigun (Kristina Šmigun-Vähi) EST  
• 2010 – Vancouver: 15km skiathlon – Marit Bjørgen NOR  
• 2014 – Sochi: 15km skiathlon – Marit Bjørgen NOR  
• 2018 – PyeongChang: 15km skiathlon – Charlotte Kalla SWE  
• 2022 – Beijing: 15km skiathlon – Therese Johaug NOR  

WORLD CHAMPIONS 

PURSUIT START 

• 1993 Stefania Belmondo, Italia 
• 1995 Larissa Lazutina, Russia 
• 1997 Elena Välbe, Russia 
• 1999 Stefania Belmondo, Italy 
• 2001 Virpi Kuitunen, Finland (5+5 km) 

20KM 

• 1978 Zinaida Amosova, Soviet Union 
• 1980 Veronika Hesse, DDR 
• 1982 Raisa Smetanina, Sovjetunion 
• 1985 Grete Ingeborg Nykkelmo, Norway 
• 1987 Marie-Helene Westin, Sweden 

15KM 

• 1989 Marjo Matikainen, Finland 
• 1991 Elena Välbe, Sovjetunionen 
• 1993 Elena Välbe, Russia 
• 1995 Larissa Lazutina, Russia 
• 1997 Elena Välbe, Russia 
• 1999 Stefania Belmondo, Italy 
• 2001 Bente Skari, Norway 
• 2003 Bente Skari, Norway 

15KM SKIATHLON (7.5km classic + 7.5 km free) 

• 2003 Kristina Smigun, Estonia (5+5km) 
• 2005 Julia Tchepalova, Russia 
• 2007 Olga Zaitseva, Russia 
• 2009 Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland 
• 2011 Marit Bjørgen, Norway 
• 2013 Marit Bjørgen, Norway 
• 2015 Therese Johaug, Norway 
• 2017 Marit Bjørgen, Norway 
• 2019 Therese Johaug, Norway 
• 2021 Therese Johaug, Norway 
• 2023 Ebba Andersson, Sweden 
• 2025 Ebba Andersson, Sweden 

FAVORITES  

Jessica Diggins, USA 

The Olympics mean something special to the Americans. Diggins is never giving up, even if she looks dead halfway through the race. And she can always find a good sprint at the end. These are her last Olympics, and she will be hard to beat. Her key point is to be there after the classical part. 

Ebba Andersson, Sweden 

The World champion from both 2023 and 2025. Hasn’t shown the same form this Winter, but everybody in the business knows what Ebba can do. She must get a gap on the fast ladies like Diggins before the final. She will for sure try to make the race hard from the start. 

Jonna Sundling, Sweden 

With the same strengths as Diggins. Sundling is always in shape for championships, and her endurance may be good enough to follow the leaders all the way here. If she does that, she has the best sprint of them all. Don’t look at Jonna Sundling as a pure sprinter.  

OUTSIDERS 

Frida Karlsson, Sweden 

The Swedes have the best team here. Frida Karlsson is the World champion over 50 km from last season. But there are a few question marks behind her name. She has been at altitude for a long time, preparing for the Games. And she has left out several races. Besides, she has been struggling with a foot injury. But she has the capacity and will also want a hard race from the start. 

Astrid Øyre Slind, Norway 

Also, best for long distances. She was doing a lot of work in the lead-up to the last classical mass start in Goms before the games. But she seldom wins a sprint at the end, and also needs to get rid of the sprinters. Will probably join Karlsson and Andersson in an attempt to break up the leading group.  

Heidi Weng, Norway 

Weng was pleased to get medals at the World championships in Trondheim last year. She has the experience, and she is nearly always in the front group. Heidi Weng is a good climber and could be trying to attack on the uphills. It’s been a good season so far.  

Linn Svahn, Sweden 

Back after nearly one year of problems with a head injury after her crash in front of last year’s Worlds in Trondheim. Won the previous sprint in Goms in style, but was not able to follow the leaders over the 20 km classic mass start. Her question mark is whether she has enough training to stay up there for 20 km. She needs to be able to use her powerful sprint at the end. 

You will find the start lists HERE

Cross-country skiing schedule – Olympics 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
• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 11:45 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.

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