Kerttu Niskanen comforted Nadine Fähndrich at the Salpausselka Games. The Swiss qualified for the final and lost the sprint cup.
25.3. 16:12•Updated 25.3. 16:13
BAY. At the Salpausselkä World Cup, an emotional moment was seen in the interview area when Kerttu Niskanen comforted the Swiss, who was crying profusely Nadine Fähndrich.
Fähndrich beat Sweden in the sprint cup House for Dahlqvist. The Swiss missed the semifinals when Dahlqvist was fourth.
Niskanen hugged Fähndrich and tried his best to support the disappointed Swiss.
– Sport is full of emotions. They had a really tight race. It didn’t matter which way it went, the other would have been disappointed, Niskanen commented on his beautiful life.
Fähndrich said that Niskanen had spoken empowering words to him.
– Kerttu told me that I was strong and we were strong, and today I feel bad, tomorrow I feel better, Fähndrich said.
Fähndrich said that the words helped a little, but he was still disappointed. Fähndrich collected himself before giving interviews.
– I am really disappointed. There was a lot of pressure. I couldn’t handle them, Fähndrich stated.
The Swiss has also been second in the sprint cup once before in his career in the 2021 season. This season, he got a real taste of victory when he won four sprint races. Before this season, there had been a total of five wins.
– I had a really hard time today. I struggled under these conditions.
Fähndrich led the sprint cup even before the final race with 21 points. There was also drama at Salpauselka when Dahlqvist lost his chance to win the sprint cup already in the first round. His stick broke, but his teammate Moa Ilar let him continue.
Fähndirch was asked if the move was unsportsmanlike.
– It’s hard to say. They are a team. Of course they help each other, Fähndrich stated.
Jasmi Joensuu liked the swedes trick.
– It was nicely done by Moa Ilar. It showed the team spirit of the Swedes. It’s great to see. Maja had pretty big pots in that game, Joensuu stated.
The international skiing federation FIS does not pay prize money for winning the sprint cup, but star-level skiers can have clauses worth tens of thousands of euros in their personal sponsorship contracts when it comes to the crystal ball achieved from the cups of the sub-disciplines, i.e. sprint or distance races.