Frida Karlsson Triumphs at World Cup Opener in Ruka with Strong Comeback

Swedish cross-country skier Frida Karlsson delivered a commanding performance to win the 2025–2026 World Cup season opener in Ruka, Finland, overcoming a disappointing start to the season. Karlsson dominated the classic 10-kilometer race, finishing over ten seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Norway's Heidi Weng.

After a challenging weekend at the Sverigepremiären in Gällivare, where Karlsson described her performance as the "worst premiere ever," she bounced back emphatically. Taking an early lead by the 3.1-kilometer mark, she consistently extended her advantage to secure victory by 10.5 seconds over Weng. Her strong preparation and confident mindset were key to her success in the race.

The competition initially looked set for a Swedish podium sweep, with Moa Ilar and Ebba Andersson closely following Karlsson early on. However, Heidi Weng's surge at around 6.8 kilometers interrupted this, securing second place. Moa Ilar capitalized on her technical skill to claim third place, narrowly ahead of Andersson. Ilar was delighted with her performance, stating she managed one of her best technical races and was "super proud and very happy" to finish on the podium.

Karlsson and Ilar’s success was underpinned by a strategic decision to race together for mutual support. They planned this collaboration the day before the race, which Karlsson acknowledged was especially helpful in the final stages. After her victory, Karlsson shared her joy with teammate Linn Svahn, indicating how much she missed her presence.

Alongside these top results, other Swedish athletes performed well, with Märta Rosenberg finishing 14th, Moa Lundgren 21st, and Evelina Crüsell 34th, highlighting the depth in the Swedish team.

Karlsson’s victory marks her second consecutive win in Ruka and serves as a promising start to the World Cup season and the broader build-up to future competitions, including the Olympics.