At the recent Davos World Cup Sprint Cross-Country Skiing event, Swedish skier Jonna Sundling delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a time of 2.40,68, decisively four seconds faster than her closest competitor, Finnish skier Jasmi Joensuu. Sundling’s dominance on the challenging 1500-meter course showcased her status as one of the favorites for upcoming championships.
Despite Sundling’s impressive victory, the race brought unexpected challenges for Norwegian skiers Mathilde Myhrvold and Julie Myhre. While Myhrvold secured the third position, her finish was marred by health issues. Moments after crossing the finish line, Myhrvold experienced nausea, leading to her becoming physically ill near the finish area. Reflecting on the situation, Myhre stated, "Jeg synes det (slike situasjoner) er så ekkelt. Men hun er venninnen min. Jeg kan jo ikke bare forlate henne, heller. Jeg prøvde å hjelpe henne og synes så synd på henne. For mange sto bare og lo og jeg var sikker på at det ble filmet," highlighting the awkwardness of witnessing her friend's struggle during what should have been a celebratory moment.
Myhrvold humorously admitted to the discomfort, saying, "Litt flaut," as she smiled bravely about her otherwise stellar finish during the competition. She explained the physical toll such races take, noting, "Det var kanskje ett minutt der jeg tenkte at ‘dette var kult’ – så ble jeg dritkvalm, og da trengte jeg noen minutter for å komme tilbake til meg selv." Myhrvold emphasized the rigorous exertion involved and her experiences with similar situations during sprints. This reflects the intense physical demands placed on athletes competing at this level.
Despite her distress, Myhrvold expressed gratitude for securing one of her top performances, as she had not reached the podium since December 2021. Reflecting on her race, she stated, "En veldig bra dag. Jeg har alltid likt meg i Davos. Jeg visste det var muligheter. Jonna rykker til noe voldsomt i den siste bakken, og da ble det bare å konsentrere seg om andreplassen. At jeg klarte å holde den er veldig gøy," capturing her excitement about her achievement amid the challenges faced.
Myhre also had her share of triumphs, marking significant progress toward securing her place for the February World Championships to be held in Trondheim. She boasted three consecutive strong podium finishes, praising the competitive atmosphere. When asked about her chances for the championships, Myhre remarked, "Jeg har ikke sikret den. Men jeg har levert en veldig god søknad. Det er VM på hjemmebane, dit skal jeg. Det har jeg bestemt meg for. Det er godt å klinke til en pallplass i dag også," demonstrating her determination and optimistic outlook.
The Davos event also highlighted the importance of building momentum heading toward future competitions. With the sprint event as part of the preparation for the World Championships, the atmosphere was electric as athletes vied for both victory and valuable ranking points. Even with the significant challenges faced, Myhrvold and Myhre's perseverance is commendable as they continue to build their careers and rise to the occasion.
Overall, the events at Davos illustrated not only the elite talent present within this sport but also the camaraderie and resilience among the competitors. Each athlete brought their best to the course, with ambitious motivations driving them toward success.
