Jasmi Joensuu has made history by achieving her first personal podium finish at the Tour de Ski, finishing second in the free-style sprint event held this Saturday in Toblach, Italy. This remarkable performance marks not only a personal best for the 28-year-old Finnish skier, but also ends more than 15 years without a Finnish woman on the podium for the free-style sprint at the World Cup level. The last such finish was by Aino-Kaisa Saarinen who placed third back in December 2009.
Joensuu displayed impressive speed and determination throughout the event. She started strong, securing fifth place during the qualification rounds before dominating her quarter-final heat. She faced fierce competition during the semi-finals; nonetheless, she made it through to the finals, where she fought hard for the top position against the reigning champion, Jessie Diggins of the USA, finishing just 0.31 seconds behind.
"Here, so many emotions from the last two weeks are pouring out," Joensuu expressed candidly during her post-race interview with Viaplay. This emotional victory is particularly poignant for Joensuu, who has faced personal struggles recently, including the end of her long-term relationship. These challenges had taken their toll on her mental resources, making her performance all the more significant.
Reflecting on her experience, Joensuu remarked, "Now I am going to enjoy this; this isn’t something you experience every day." She emphasized her relief and joy at finishing on the podium after having contemplated withdrawing from the competition just days before the race. "One place could still be improved, but otherwise it went pretty well," she added, reflecting her ambitions for future races.
Joensuu’s success sets the stage for perhaps more podium finishes to come during the current season. After her second-place finish, the Finnish skier has earned 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately 2,126 euros) as prize money, which is modest compared to regular World Cup events. To put it in perspective, had this been a standard World Cup event, her placement would have earned her over 10,600 euros. Nonetheless, the achievement adds to her career total, which now stands at approximately 43,600 euros.
Apart from Joensuu's thrilling race, Finnish skiers had an overall strong showing at the event. Kerttu Niskanen, who reached the semi-finals, finished ninth, with her fellow countrywoman Jasmin Kähärä following close behind at eleventh. Krista Pärmäkoski, known more for longer races, captured 24th place. Niskanen noted, "This was a good start to the Tour," hinting at promising potential for the rest of the competition.
The men's sprint saw Norway's Johannes Kläbo taking his fourth sprint victory of the season, solidifying his dominance on the circuit. Following Kläbo were Lucas Chanavat of France and Janik Riebli of Switzerland. The competition level at Toblach pointed to the increasing competitiveness among athletes as the Tour progresses.
Looking forward, Joensuu will be aiming to sustain this momentum as the Tour de Ski continues with the upcoming 15 km traditional style races. The anticipation is building as participants prepare for the challenges yet to come. Given her remarkable performance, fans and fellow competitors alike are eager to follow Joensuu’s progress through one of the most grueling events on the skiing calendar.
For Jasmi Joensuu, this podium finish is not just another line on her resume; it's the fulfillment of hard work, resilience, and the triumph of spirit. With both her personal motivation and the support of her teammates, she looks to make this Tour de Ski one to truly celebrate.
