Martin Johnsrud Sundby “lost” another race at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland on Wednesday, claiming “only” the silver medal in the men’s 15-km race behind Iivo Niskanen of Finland who won the gold. Norway’s Niklas Dyrhaug won the bronze.
That would normally be considered a good showing for a country on the winners’ platform, but not for Norwegians who have dominated cross-country skiing for so many years. If was another disappointment for Sundby, who now only has one more chance to win an individual gold medal, in the men’s tough 50-km race on Sunday, before the world championships come to a close.
“I think and hope I can stand on the top of the platform on Sunday,” Sundby told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). He ended up nearly 18 seconds behind Niskanen on Wednesday, who skied the 15 kilometers in just 36 minutes and 44 seconds. Dyrhaug finished 14 seconds behind Sundby, who’s been aching for a major comeback after his bout with doping charges last year that involved his incorrect use of asthma medicine.
He was calling himself the “silver boy” of the world championships after also being “next best” in the 30-km race last week. “But I can’t get depressed,” he told NRK. “I look forward to Friday (when the men will compete in 4×10-km relay) and even more to Sunday.”
newsinenglish.no staff