Jasmin Kähärä was superior in the under-23 World Ski Championships in Whistler, Canada. On Sunday, Kähärä kept a very fast pace, ever since the qualifying of the sprint race.
Cross-country skier Jasmin Kähärä has won gold in the under-23 World Ski Championships in Whistler, Canada. Kähärä maintained the fastest pace of the sprint competition, which was skied in the traditional skiing style, right from the qualifiers and finished his wonderful day by grabbing the gold in showmanship.
Norway skied to silver Kristin Austgulen’s Fosnaes, who lost to Kähärä by 0.7 seconds. The bronze medal also went to Norway, Sigrid Leseth to Foeyen.
– This was absolutely amazing, I’ve been ready for this for years. I wanted to be at the forefront, do my best and ski as hard as possible. I’m so happy that I won, a breathless Kähärä commented in an interview with the race organiser.
The World Cup gold was already Finland’s second in the World Youth Skiing Championships. 19 years old on Saturday Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen took gold in the under-20 category.
Overall, the medal was Finland’s third of the Games. In a body Eero Rantala won the World Championship bronze on Saturday.
After the competition, Kähärä’s relief erupted. He rushed to hug his backers and a spontaneous cry came out of his mouth.
– Finally!
Kähärä turns 23 in May. Until now, success at the World Youth Championships had remained modest before Canada. In 2020, Kähärä reached the final in the World Cup sprint, but a broken stick ruined the race and he finished sixth.
They advanced from other Finns to the semi-finals Amanda Saari and Wiljam Mattila. Saari skied with Kähärä in the same semi-final, but the race ended with a pole break as a beginner. Mattila advanced to the semi-finals as the second fastest in her heat, but in her semi-final she fell behind Sweden, who won the heat About George Ersson 1.8 seconds.
A place in Planica?
Sports expert Kalle Lassila chose Jasmin Kähärän to be a candidate for the World Ski Championships starting in Planica in a month, even before Sunday’s World Youth Ski Championships. Lassila described the choice of the fourth skier for the WC sprint as difficult, but a choice Katri Lylynperän and Jasmin Kähärä finally targeted Kähärä.
According to Lassila, Lylynperä’s international exposure is weaker than Kähärän’s.