Finland women’s team sprint medal bid ended in heartbreak at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics when Jasmin Kähärä fell just metres before the finish line, extinguishing hopes of a podium place in one of the most tightly contested races of the Games.
Finland had skied with precision and intent throughout the final. For much of the race, a medal appeared within reach. Then, on the final descent of the anchor leg, everything changed.
Kähärä lost balance in the last downhill section before the home straight. There was no contact with another skier. Television replays showed her skis slip out beneath her as speed and fatigue combined at the worst possible moment.
She rose and crossed the line in ninth place. Finland finished 43.38 seconds behind the winners.
Sweden claimed gold in 20:29.99, ahead of Switzerland and Germany.
Speaking to Yle after the race, Kähärä described the moment exhaustion overtook her.
“There was so much lactate in my legs. I do not really remember it. The lights went out and I could not control my body,” she said.
She later confirmed she had not suffered a physical injury.
The disappointment was sharp because Finland had raced with conviction from the outset. Jasmi Joensuu delivered Kähärä into the final exchange in second place, only seconds behind Sweden. Six teams were still in serious medal contention at that stage.
Joensuu attacked decisively on the penultimate climb of her leg. The surge created a small but meaningful gap of around three seconds to the chasing group. It was a move that signalled belief.
“We set out as challengers. We knew we could produce a strong result and we skied bravely,” Joensuu said in comments carried by event organisers. “Elite sport is sometimes cruel.”
Kähärä began her anchor leg firmly in the medal fight. However, the pressure intensified quickly. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich and skiers from Norway, Germany and the United States increased the tempo. On the final climb, Finland began to lose ground as the pace sharpened.
By the crest, Switzerland and Germany had edged ahead. Norway hovered close behind. The podium battle was still alive, but margins were narrowing.
The race unfolded at an unforgiving speed. The United States set an aggressive early tempo through Jessie Diggins, while Sweden’s Jonna Sundling responded immediately.
Joensuu kept Finland within striking distance and handed over within seconds of the lead group. Kähärä then produced one of the most assertive early legs of the final, using a powerful descent to move Finland briefly into first place at the second exchange.
Sweden later established a modest gap through Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist, but the race behind remained compact and volatile. At halfway, fewer than five seconds separated the top nine teams.
Finland had qualified second fastest in the morning heats, underlining that their presence in the medal fight was no accident.
After the fall, Kähärä remained on the snow for several moments in the finish area. Joensuu knelt beside her and spoke quietly before medical staff approached. Observers noted that Kähärä later leaned against the barrier and appeared visibly distressed.
For a team that had executed its strategy with discipline and courage, the ending felt abrupt.
The women’s team sprint formed part of a full cross-country skiing programme on Wednesday. Finland’s men later placed 11th in their final.
For Finland, the performance demonstrated competitive strength at the highest level. The result, however, will be remembered for what might have been.
