Sweden dominates women's cross-country skiing - but the competition is thinning out

A few days ago, Kerttu Niskanen, Finland, announced that she is ending her career. Längdstjärnan is one of several who choose to put their skis on the shelf.

Even top names such as Jessie Diggins, USA, Nadine Fähndrich, Switzerland, and Krista Pärmäkoski, Finland, have retired after the past season.

No American in the A national team

In addition, not a single female skier has been selected for the US cross country team. When both Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan have finished their elite careers, there are no American women deemed good enough for the A national team.

- It is clear that it will be noticed. The Swedish girls are better than ever. But the resistance is perhaps worse than ever, says SVT's expert Anders Blomquist.

In cross-country skiing, Sweden has completely dominated the women's side in recent years. In the WC in Trondheim 2025, the Swedes took a total of eight medals, of which gold in all six races.

"The Swedish team in perfect balance"

During the Winter Olympics, the dominance continued when Sweden took gold in five out of six distances, a total of ten medals, on the women's side.

When several of the competitors have now quit, the Swedish ladies can be even more alone at the top.

- I think the Swedish team is in perfect balance. There are so many world stars. I see ahead of me a season where the Swedish girls will perform very, very well, says Blomquist.