On Saturday, February 25, the women’s 7.5/7.5km skiathlon event will take place in Planica. The race is expected to feature several strong contenders, including Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson from Sweden, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg from Norway, and Kerttu Niskanen from Finland. Jessica Diggins from the USA will also be looking to make history by becoming the first American cross-country skier to win an individual distance event at the World Championships.

Andersson and Karlsson, from Sweden, are looking to become the first Swedish women to win a skiathlon event at the World Championships. However, this will be a challenging feat. Marit Bjørgen and Therese Johaug, both from Norway, have won the last six skiathlon events at the World Championships, but both cross-country skiers retired in 2022, leaving the field open for new winners.

Andersson has been in impressive form, winning the three most recent individual World Cup distance events for women. These events include the 10 km freestyle, and 20km mass start classic style in Les Rousses and the 10km freestyle in Toblach. However, her best skiathlon result at the World Championships is a bronze medal in Oberstdorf in 2021.

In contrast, Karlsson finished in the top-5 in all three skiathlon events she has participated in, including a fifth place at the 2019 World Championships, a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships, and a fifth place at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Other contenders for the event include Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, who claimed a silver medal at the skiathlon event at the World Championships in 2019. She is the only woman to have won medals in skiathlon events at the Junior World Championships, U23 World Championships, and Senior World Championships.

Finland has won four World Championships medals in the women’s skiathlon, most recently silver for Krista Pärmäkoski in 2017. Kerttu Niskanen can become the third oldest medal winner in the women’s skiathlon at the World Championships after Marit Bjørgen and Larissa Lazutina.

Overall, the women’s skiathlon event promises to be an exciting race, with a range of talented and experienced cross-country skiers from around the world vying for the top spot on the podium.

Planica, Slovenia, is the place for this winter season’s World Championships, with ten competitions in 12 days and the last race being the men’s cross-country skiing 50km mass start race on March 5, 2023.

February 25, Saturday

• 14:00 Women’s Skiathlon, 7.5km/7.5km

Start list, details, and results you can find here

Women’s Start List

See below the complete program for the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. *subject to changes

FACTS Planica World Championships Season 2022/2023

• When: Tuesday, February 21 to Sunday, March 5, 2023 
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Planica, Slovenia
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Championships in Planica, Slovenia

Planica 2023 – Cross-Country Skiing Complete Program

February 21, Tuesday

• 20:23 Opening Ceremony, Planica Nordic Park Kranjska Gora

February 22, Wednesday

• 12:00 Women’s Qualification race, 5km freestyle
• 13:30 Men’s Qualification race, 10km freestyle

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 23, Thursday

• 12:00 Women/Men Sprint qualification, classic
• 14:30 Women/Men Sprint finals, classic

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 24, Friday

• 15:30 Men’s Skiathlon, 15/15km

Start list, details, and results you can find here

February 25, Saturday

• 14:00 Women’s Skiathlon, 7.5km/7.5km

Start list, details, and results you can find here

February 26, Sunday

• 11:30 Women/Men Team Sprint qualification, freestyle
• 13:30 Women/Men Team Sprint finals, freestyle

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 27, Monday 

• Day Off

February 28, Tuesday

• 12:30 Women’s Individual, 10km freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 1, Wednesday

• 12:30 Men’s Individual, 15km freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 2, Thursday 

• 12:30 Women’s Relay, 4x5km classic/freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 3, Friday

• 12:30 Men’s Relay, 4x10km classic/freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 4, Saturday

• 12:00 Women’s Mass Start, 30km classic

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 5, Sunday

• 12:00 Men’s Mass Start, 50km classic
• After the competition – Medal and Closing Ceremony

Start list, details, and results you can find here

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