Hilla Niemelä took the silver medal in the sprint at the Junior World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
Hilla Niemelä brought Finland its first medal at the World Youth Skiing Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Niemelä skied to silver in the under-23 women’s sprint.
Canada’s Sonja Schmidt was clearly the strongest in the sprint final, but the fight for the other medals was really even. Niemelä pressed for silver and Norway Maria Hartz Melling skied for bronze.
– The goal was for me to be in the best possible shape here, and I succeeded. I’ve known for many weeks that a medal is possible, and I didn’t set out to lose to anyone, Niemelä said on the Finnish Ski Federation’s audio recording.
– I enjoy every moment.
The sprint was contested in free skiing.
Emil Liekari eliminated in men’s sprint semifinals. Liekar’s hopes for a place in the final were dashed right at the start when his pole broke. Liekari finished last in his division.
Norwegian men celebrate a double victory. Aleksander Elde Holmboe skied first and Matz William Jensen came second.