Mar 06, 2025 - On 5 March, the Sitting, Standing, and Vision Impaired (VI) World Championship Sprint Finals took center stage at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim.
Much more than that, though, the day marked the first time that Para Cross-Country athletes raced in the same stadium and on the same day as their able-bodied counterparts, competing between the Team Sprint Qualification and Finals of the FIS Cross-Country World Championships and marking a milestone for inclusivity in the sport.
With an electrifying atmosphere, dramatic finishes, and unprecedented recognition for Para athletes, the first-ever inclusive sprint event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships left its mark not just as a race, but as a defining moment for the sport’s future.
“It’s a dream come true. We work so hard to get here. Norway is amazing and the crowd was fantastic,” Ribera said after taking gold in the Men’s Sitting final.
Beyond the thrilling races, the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships set yet another new benchmark for Para Cross-Country Skiing: FIS and Trondheim 2025 awarded record prize money to Para athletes, with the 24 medalists sharing a NOK 1 million ($90,000) pot. Gold medalists received NOK 60,000 ($5,400)—over seven times the amount awarded at the Lillehammer 2021 Para Snow Sports World Championships.
A change of scenery
The historic event came just days after heavy rain had forced the cancellation of the final race of the 2024/25 Para Cross-Country World Cup in Steinkjer. In Trondheim, however, athletes faced a starkly different challenge as heavy snowfall set the stage for the Individual Sprint Classic qualifications in Granåsen. The Sitting categories tackled two laps of 490m with a 5m elevation gain, while the Standing categories navigated a demanding 1100m course featuring a 22m climb.
“It’s a pretty technical course, especially with the conditions today. It starts off easy, with some double-poling sections, then heads into the Bjørgen Hill, which is about a one-minute climb before reaching the top. From there, it’s a turn, a descent back to the stadium, and then a push to the finish line. With today’s conditions, it’s going to be tough, with long race times for a sprint. I just hope everyone stays on their feet and avoids any falls, because it’s tricky out there,” explained Norway’s Vilde Nilsen after testing the course in warm-up.
Despite the difficult conditions, newly crowned 2024/25 World Cup overall winner Kendall Gretsch (USA) dominated the Women’s Sitting qualifications, finishing nearly five seconds ahead of 10km World Champion Anja Wicker (GER), with South Korea’s Yunji Kim more than nine seconds behind in third. In the Women’s Standing category, reigning Sprint World Champion Natalie Wilkie (CAN) made a last-minute decision to travel to Trondheim, but showed no hesitation on the course, topping the qualifiers with a time of 3:47.17—a staggering nine seconds ahead of home favorite Vilde Nilsen (NOR).
Returning to competition this season, Austria’s Carina Edlinger, guided by Jakob Kainz, was the fastest in the Women’s VI category, finishing ahead of the Czech duo Simona Bubenickova and guide David Srutek, while Germany’s Linn Kazmaier and guide Florian Baumann rounded out the top three.
Cristian Westemaier Ribera (BRA), Taiki Kawayoke (JPN), and Jake Adicoff (USA), guided by Peter Wolter, took the top spots in the Men’s Sitting, Men’s Standing, and Men’s VI qualifications, respectively.
Different conditions
As is often the case in Norway, it only took 24 hours for the conditions to shift dramatically. The athletes who qualified in heavy snowfall on Tuesday had to contend with rain and salted snow for their semi-finals and finals, creating a much faster course.
“The course is totally different from yesterday. Yesterday, it was dumping snow, making it really tough. Today, it’s klister, kind of raining, kind of snowing—just very different. The track is faster and maybe a little more stable, which makes it fun. I think it’ll be a good race,” said Natalie Wilkie after advancing from her semi-final.
“I felt pretty good in the semi, had good grip, and my body felt strong. Today was about figuring out the course, testing some strategies, and deciding what to bring into the final,” she added.
Wearing the defending World Champion bib doesn’t add any pressure. I only decided to come here three days ago, so everything has been last-minute, and I’m just grateful to be here. I know I won two years ago, but I don’t feel pressure to win again. I’ll do my best and hopefully take the gold.Natalie Wilkie (CAN), 2023 Para Cross-Country Sprint World Champion
In the Women’s Sitting final, Seunghee Han (KOR) and Anja Wicker (GER) set off first, followed by Yunji Kim (KOR) and Indira Liseth (NOR), then Merle Marie Menje (GER) and Kendall Gretsch (USA) as the last to start. Wicker and Kim led the first lap side by side before Kim pulled ahead on the second lap, steadily increasing her lead. Meanwhile, Gretsch powered through the field, overtaking Wicker in the final stretch but falling just short of catching Kim, who handled the pressure of the big stage with composure.
“I was so nervous because it was my first time racing in front of so many people. I’m so happy to win the gold medal here!” said an emotional Kim.
Cristian Westemaier Ribera (BRA) controlled his race from start to finish, never giving his rivals a chance to close the gap. Pavlo Bal (UKR) secured second place after a strong start, while Yerbol Khamitov (KAZ) made a late charge to claim third.
The atmosphere in Granåsen reached its peak when Vilde Nilsen (NOR) lined up for the Women’s Standing final against her biggest World Cup rival, defending champion Natalie Wilkie. The Canadian, faster in both qualifications and semi-finals, set the pace early, pulling ahead on the climb to Bjørgen Hill while Nilsen trailed by ten meters. Wilkie still had a five-second lead coming out of the final descent, but as they rounded the last corner, Nilsen unleashed a ferocious double-poling sprint. She gained ground with every push, closing the gap inch by inch until lunging past Wilkie at the finish line to take an electrifying victory.
“It was incredible with all the Norwegian fans, my family, and the support here. At one point, I thought maybe I wouldn’t make it, but at the finish line, I gave it everything, and I’m so happy!” Nilsen said, overcome with joy.
The Men’s Standing final delivered just as much drama. Taiki Kawayoke (JPN), fresh off his 2024/25 World Cup overall victory, led from the start, but Karl Tabouret (FRA) methodically closed the gap. The Frenchman surged ahead in the final turn and powered to the finish for his first World Championship title, with teammate Benjamin Daviet securing bronze.
“This is unbelievable. I never thought I could pull off something like this today—it’s the craziest dream come true! And to be on the podium with Benjamin for the first time is just extraordinary,” Tabouret said, still in disbelief.
In the Women’s VI final, the Czech duo Simona Bubenickova and guide David Srutek held off Austria’s Carina Edlinger and Jakob Kainz until the final turn, where Kainz guided Edlinger past with a well-timed move. The German duo of Leonie Maria Walter and Christian Krasman secured bronze, just ahead of Linn Kazmaier and Florian Baumann.
Winning in Norway was on my bucket list—and now I did it at the World Championships! Skiing here in front of this crowd, performing like the able-bodied athletes, and showing what we can do is so special.Carina Edlinger (AUT), 2025 Para Cross-Country Sprint World Champion
The Men’s VI final saw Zebastian Modin (SWE) and guide Emil Joensson Haag execute their strategy perfectly, holding off the fast-charging American duo of Jake Adicoff and Peter Wolter to take gold. Finland’s Inkki Inola, with guide Arttu Kaario, produced a blazing final stretch to snatch bronze.
“It was fun but challenging with the noise. I struggled in the last corner, but it worked out, and I’m happy,” Modin reflected.
Haag summed up the team’s approach: “Having a strategy from the start was key. The atmosphere and noise were tough, but we love it. We stuck to our plan and executed well.”
