Day 9: Klaebo's conquest, French domination? and Olympic firsts
Day 9: Klaebo's conquest, French domination? and Olympic firsts.
Day nine marks a pivotal Super Sunday at the Milano Cortina Games, with nine gold medals on the line and history waiting to be written across the snow and ice. The day is headlined by the long-awaited Olympic debut of the Women’s Large Hill Individual in ski jumping, a massive milestone for gender equality that sees the world’s best flyers finally take to the HS140. Over in Val di Fiemme, the Men's 4x7.5km Relay offers Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo the chance to further cement his status as the winter G.O.A.T. as he anchors a dominant Norwegian squad against a youthful, hungry French team. From the Biathlon Pursuits to the inaugural Mixed Team Skeleton runs, where Great Britain’s Matt Weston eyes a historic second gold, today’s schedule is filled with high-octane action
Biathlon
In a bumper day of Biathlon action, both the men's and women's pursuits will take place.
Men's 12.5km pursuit:
The first of the individual head-to-head races, as each athlete will tackle five laps of 2.5km, with our shoots the first two in the prone position and the final two in the standing position. The start times for this event are based on the sprint event finishing margins, meaning Quentin Fillon-Maillet will start first and is the favourite to defend his pursuit crown from four years ago. He will be hunted down by:
Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen (NOR): Starting 14 seconds back from Fillon-Maillet, he almost certainly won't make contact with Fillon-Maillet on lap one, so he will be relying on misses from Fillon-Maillet to compete for gold, but if Christiansen is in contention going into the final shoot and on the last lap, there arent many better closers in biathlon history. He has been Norway's anchor on relay teams for years, and if it's a sprint finish, he will win it.
Sturla Holm Laegreid (NOR): Only 16 seconds back and an absolute demon with the rifle he will almost certainly hit at least 18 so will be in the mix his ski speed isnt quite the best in the world so will need a small margin after shoot four if he is to win but like Christiansen is a great sprinter and has been there and done that in this sport.
Emilien Jacquelin (FRA): having missed out on a medal by 0.2 seconds after a meltdown on the final lap, going from first to fourth, he is better at head-to-head racing than racing against the clock, so this event should favour him. The question is, will he hit enough targets? As he is historically average with the rifle.
Sebastian Samuelsson (SWE): the last of the athletes who start within one penalty loop of Fillon Maillet and perhaps the most dangerous to the Frenchman if Samuelsson has a good day. One of the fastest on the skis for the last half a decade will try to get on the back of the three in front of him on the first loop and go from there. In a last-lap battle, he is one of the best.
Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (NOR): at 43 seconds back, he is probably too far back for gold, but he is within two shots, so he is definitely in contention for a medal. Like Samuelsson is very quick, but can struggle on the range.
Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE): At 47 seconds, if he and Dale-Skjevdal link up on match one and help each other, they could bring back loads of time as they're both in the top five fastest men on the tour when on form
Johan-Olav Both (NOR): At nearly a minute, he needs a perfect race for a medal, but he is very capable, as probably the best shot in the world, as shown by his performance in the individual event. If he hits all 20, he could well medal
Eric Perrot (FRA): The world number one had a poor sprint to leave himself 1:03 behind his teammate, but he is both quick and consistent on the range, so he can claw that back if Fillon Maillet makes errors or takes the first lap too easy he is the last man with a realistic shot of a medal.
Tommasso Giacomel (ITA): This may be wishful thinking as he is 1:43 behind, but if anyone can do it, Tommy can. His peak is probably the highest of any athlete in the field, so if he can find that level, he definitely has an outside chance of a medal.
Prediction
Gold: Fillon-Maillet
Silver: Perrot
Bronze: Laegreid
Women's 10km pursuit
The women's race looks to have fewer contenders, as only six women are within a minute:
Maren Kirkeide (NOR): After her brilliant final lap in the pursuit, she will start first, but she has shown in these Olympics how inconsistent she is as she was dreadful in both the mixed relay and individual before winning the sprint is she has a good day she will medal but you never quite know what Kirkeide is going to appear at the start line.
Oceane Michelon (FRA): The young star in the French team is starting only four seconds behind Kirkeide, and she will aim to get straight onto the back of her before the first shoot. She has raced less than the other athletes, as she wasn't entered into the individual, so that should favour her in the latter stages
Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA): The favourite for this, despite starting 24 seconds back, she is the only biathlete to medal in every event in the biathlon program, man or woman and is the clear world number one. Her superpower is her ability to consistently hit five out of five on the final shot.
Milena Todorova (BUL): the surprise in the top four of the sprint at only 40 seconds back, she skied brilliantly, and if she hadnt have missed, she would have claimed the bronze. It feels unlikely she will medal, but she has put herself in a position where that is a possibility.
Lisa Vittozzi (ITA): Vittozzi was right in touch after two shoots for a medal in the sprint but faded badly towards the end of the race to finish 41 seconds behind. She is historically better at four-shoot races and will hope to use Todorova and Minkinnen behind her to get her closer to the medals in the opening couple of laps.
Suvi Minkinnen (FIN): Shot well but skied slowly to finish 50 seconds behind the winner, but she can be better than that and is one of the most consistent shots on tour. I'd be surprised if she finishes further back in time than she starts.
Frankiska Preuss (GER): the last woman who can realistically think she can win the race at a minute back, she will have to hit all twenty targets, but that is well within her abilities. Her ski speed is a half a percent or two behind the world's best, but it certainly isnt bad
Hanna Oeberg and Elvira Oeberg (SWE): neither have been at their best, but if they can find are the only two women starting outside the top seven who can win. Starting at 1:27 and 1:38, if they end up together at any point in the race will work together. It will require either of them to shoot 20 to contend, but if that happens, they will believe they can meda,l given their ski speed at their best.
Prediction
Gold: Jeanmonnot
Silver: Vittozzi
Bronze: Kirkeide
Freestyle skiing
Mikaël Kingsbury (CAN): The greatest moguls skier of all time is on a mission. After losing the singles gold by the narrowest of margins (a 0.7 difference in turn scores despite an identical total score), Kingsbury is coming into tomorrow with a massive chip on his shoulder. This is his final Olympics, and as the reigning Dual Moguls World Champion, he is the favourite. He thrives in the dual format where his ability to stay technically perfect while under direct pressure is unmatched.
Cooper Woods (AUS): The new Olympic champion proved on Thursday that he has what it takes to beat Kingsbury. Woods became the first Australian man to win mogul gold by taking down Kingsbury in the singles final, and now he has the chance to do the double. His speed is his greatest asset; if he can force the veterans into racing faster than they are comfortable with, he could easily walk away with a second gold medal.
Ikuma Horishima (JPN): The bronze medalist from the singles event is arguably the fastest skier in the field. Horishima’s style is high-risk, high-reward, often featuring a massive cork 1440 on the bottom air. In a dual format, his raw speed and aggressive jumping make him a nightmare to line up against, though it sometimes leads to unforced errors in the middle section of the course.
Walter Wallberg (SWE): The 2022 Olympic champion finished just off the podium in fourth place on Thursday. Wallberg has been managing a back injury throughout these Games, so he comes into this lower down the favourites list than he would have been if he were fully fit.
Nick Page (USA): Leading the American charge, Nick Page will be looking for redemption after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the singles. Page is currently ranked third in the World Cup overall standings and has a very high degree of difficulty. If the big three (Kingsbury, Woods, Horishima) slip up, Page is the most likely candidate to pounce on a podium spot.
Prediction
Gold: Horishima
Silver: Kingsbury
Bronze: Woods
Cross-country skiing
The men's 4x7.5km relay will take place like the women's event; the first two legs will be classic, and the final two legs will be freestyle. Also, like the women's event, there will be a massive favourite with a special athlete in it, trying to do something unheard of.
Norway: The heavy favourites are essentially running a team of medalists. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has been untouchable, taking gold in the Skiathlon, the Sprint Classic, and the 10km Interval Start. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget secured the bronze in the Skiathlon and finished just off the podium in 5th during the 10km Interval. Einar Hedegart made a massive statement in his Olympic debut, taking the bronze in the 10km Interval Start, while Emil Iversen has been solid if not spectacular, finishing 12th in the 10km and showing strong domestic form coming into the Games. Amundsen couldn't even get in, and he is a top-five freestyle skier in the world after finishing fourth in the 10km.
France: The French are the only ones consistently breathing down Norway's neck. Mathis Desloges has been the breakout star, claiming two silver medals (Skiathlon and 10km Interval) by finishing as the "best of the rest" behind Klaebo. Hugo Lapalus proved his endurance with a 5th place in the Skiathlon and a top-10 in the 10km. Théo Schely showed his speed by qualifying 6th in the Sprint and finishing 22nd overall, while Victor Lovera kept himself in the conversation with a 15th-place finish in the Skiathlon.
Finland: The Finns are top-heavy with classic technique specialists. Iivo Niskanen had a frustrating Skiathlon, finishing 17th after struggling in the skate portion, but he remains the gold standard for the classic leg of this relay. Lauri Vuorinen nearly medaled in the Sprint Classic, finishing 4th in a photo finish. Arsi Ruuskanen showed grit with an 11th place in the Skiathlon, while young Niko Anttola finished 18th in that same event, proving he can at least hold his own in the lead pack.
Sweden: The Swedes have been shuffling their roster to find the right chemistry. William Poromaa has been their best performer, finishing 12th in the Skiathlon after a late-race fade. Johan Haeggstroem and Calle Halfvarsson have had quieter Games, with Haeggstroem finishing 13th in the Sprint and Halfvarsson finishing 26th in the 10km, but both were chosen specifically for their relay experience. Edvin Anger reached the quarterfinals of the Sprint (19th) and finished 37th in the Skiathlon, providing a high-speed anchor if the race stays close.
Italy: The hosts have been fueled by the local tifosi to some inspired results. Davide Graz stunned the field with an 8th-place finish in the Skiathlon, while Martino Carollo showed his potential with a 7th-place finish in the 10km Interval. Federico Pellegrino finished 15th in the Sprint and 20th in the Skiathlon; while he hasn't medaled yet, his tactical positioning in the pack has been as sharp as ever. Elia Barp rounds out the squad with a 14th place in the Skiathlon and a 26th in the Sprint.
Alpine skiing
The Women's Super-G give the technical specialists their first chance of individual gold in these games, as turns get slower, the level of precision required increases, and every mistake costs more and more time.
Julia Scheib (AUT): Arrives as the favourite after a dominant World Cup season up to this point, with four wins and two second places out of eight races. At just 19, she has burst onto the scene as a GS-only athlete, so this is her only event of these games. Her only weakness is that she doesn't finish occasionally, with the only two events she didn't podium in being events she didn't make it to the bottom of. If she gets to the bottom, she will almost certainly podium and probably win gold.
Camille Rast (SUI): The best of the female Swiss athletes, with the best chance to bring the dominance of the men over to the women's races, she has won once and finished on the podium a further two times this season and is incredibly consistent only finishing below fifth at the opening race of the season so it would be a surprise if she isnt in the mix for a medal.
Sara Hector (SWE): The defending champion is having a slightly underwhelming season for her standards, with only one win, although that did come in the final race before the olympics so she is clearly in great form. She has been there and done that, so she will feel no pressure if she is last to drop out of the start gates for run two.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA): The greatest skier in World Cup history with 108 wins, but her Olympic record is not up to those same standards, with 'only' three medals from her previous three game,s having struggled to deal with the expectation in Beijing especially and her Giant slalom season hasnt been great since she came back from her massive crash last season with only one podium but she has been getting faster and faster on the GS ski's as the season has gone on. The lack of expectation in this event may well work in her favour, as when she is the heavy favourite, is when she has historically wilted at the Olympics.
Alice Robinson (NZL): The only athlete who can beat Scheib if both execute two perfect runs, but like Scheib, she can be inconsistent, having not finished three of the last four GS events in the World Cup events after starting the season with back-to-back wins in Copper Mountain and Tremblant, she can win any event she is entered in.
Paula Moltzan (USA): The second of the elite Americans with three podiums this season, including two in the last three, she is in great form in GS and Slalom, but the slalom may be where her medal is more likely to come than this stacked GS field.
Prediction
Gold: Shiffrin
Silver: Scheib
Bronze: Robinson
Snowboarding
The Mixed Team Snowboard Cross event in Livigno is a high-speed game of tag where the men build a time cushion, and the women act as the finishers. France arrives as the tactical heavyweight of the field and is the only nation with the depth to field three elite pairs that are all genuine podium threats.
France 1 Aidan Chollet & Julia Nirani-Pereira: This lead French duo pairs the fastest man from the individual seeding runs with a seasoned champion known for her tactical grit. Aidan Chollet is making his senior Olympic debut here in 2026 and finished a narrow fourth in the individual big final earlier this week, which proves he has the explosive speed needed to establish an early gap. He is joined by Julia Nirani-Pereira, who is the 2018 Olympic Individual Silver medalist and the 2025 Mixed Team World Champion. Their combined strengths make them a clinical force capable of dominating the drafting zones and maintaining top board speed through the technical lower section of the Livigno course.
France 2 Loan Bozzolo & Léa Casta: The second French entry pairs a consistent veteran with the rising star of the current World Cup season to create a highly technical and disciplined team. Loan Bozzolo is a three-time Olympian who just secured a fifth-place finish in the individual race here in Italy and provides the steady hand needed for a high-pressure opening leg. He is joined by Léa Casta, who is the 2024 Youth Olympic Games Mixed Team Gold medalist and the 2025 World Cup Crystal Globe winner. Casta is currently regarded as one of the hardest riders to pass in the field, which makes her the ideal closer for protecting any time cushion delivered by Bozzolo.
France 3 Jonas Chollet & Chloé Trespeuch: This pairing offers a unique blend of youthful fearlessness and legendary status as the third prong of the French attack. Jonas Chollet is the seventeen-year-old 2024 Youth Olympic Games Individual Gold medalist who impressed the field by finishing sixth in his senior Olympic debut this week. He is paired with Chloé Trespeuch, who is the most decorated rider on the team with two individual Olympic medals, including a Silver from Beijing 2022 and a Bronze from Sochi 2014. Trespeuch acts as the ultimate anchor, using her deep tactical knowledge to navigate the chaotic final stretches and secure podium positions.
Australia 1 Adam Lambert & Josie Baff: Australia, with a real shot at a medal, mainly down to Josie Baff, is the newly crowned 2026 Olympic Individual Gold medalist and the 2020 Youth Olympic champion. Baff is currently riding an incredible streak of form, and her ability to generate speed through the rollers makes her almost impossible to catch if she starts the final leg with a lead. Lambert has to keep them close if they're to contend.
Italy 1 Lorenzo Sommariva & Michela Moioli: The home favourites have broken up the silver medal-winning pair from 2022, with Lorenzo Sommariva given the edge to partner with Moioli he finished seventh in the individual race this week and brings a deep understanding of the local track conditions to the opening leg. He hands off to Michela Moioli, who is a three-time Olympic medalist with an Individual Gold from 2018 and a fresh Bronze from the 2026 individual race. They will rely on keeping the faster men in touch distance so Moioli can work her magic
Czechia 1 Kryštof Choura & Eva Adamczyková: This team is built around the most successful tactical closer in the history of the sport as they look to turn individual silver into team gold. Kryštof Choura is an elite World Cup finalist who fought through a muscle injury to finish in the top sixteen of the individual event this week. He is paired with the legendary Eva Adamczyková, who has won an individual Olympic medal in every color including Gold in 2014 and the Silver she earned just two days ago. Adamczyková is known for her surgical precision through the jumps and can erase almost any time deficit on the final straight if Choura can keep her in touch
Great Britain Huw Nightingale & Charlotte Bankes: As the 2023 Mixed Team World Champions, this British pair has a proven track record of beating the favourites when the pressure is at its peak. Huw Nightingale is a specialist at maintaining tight drafting positions, which ensures that his partner begins her run within striking distance of the leaders. Charlotte Bankes is a four-time Olympian and two-time individual World Champion who is looking for redemption after a frustrating exit in the individual quarter finals this week. Her raw board speed remains the highest in the field, and she is the biggest threat to French if she is delivered in touching distance.
Canada Éliot Grondin & Audrey McManiman: With injuries sidelining their usual starter on the women's side, the Canadian hopes rest on the shoulders of the fastest man in snowboarding and a resilient technical specialist. Éliot Grondin is now a three-time Olympic medalist who won Individual Silver and Mixed Team Bronze in 2022, along with another Individual Silver here in Livigno. He is tasked with building a massive time cushion for Audrey McManiman, who is a two-time Olympian who finished eleventh in the 2022 Games. The fact that it is women on the second run hurts this pair due to the lack of an elite female athlete.
Switzerland Kalle Koblet & Noémie Wiedmer: The Swiss pairing relies on the explosive form of the week's breakout teenage star to challenge the podium. Kalle Koblet is a three-time Olympian and is very experienced in this event, but he won't be winning the men's heat; he needs to stay close to give Noémie Wiedmer, who is the reigning 2024 Youth Olympic Games Individual Gold medalist and finished a career-best fourth in the senior individual race yesterday. Her recent surge in confidence and aggressive passing style make this pair a high-value sleeper for a medal.
Prediction
Gold: France 2
Silver: France 1
Bronze: France 3
Speed Skating
Women's 500m Speed Skating
The pure sprint of speed skating is often decided in the first 100 meters. With no room for error, the race is a battle between the explosive power of the Dutch and the reigning American champion.
Femke Kok (NED): She is the heavy favourite and current world record holder. Kok has been virtually untouchable in this distance over the last two years and enters tomorrow on a massive confidence boost after taking silver in the 1000m earlier this week. Her opening 100m split is the fastest in the world (clocking a staggering 17.4 seconds in the 1000m opening), and if she executes her start, the gold is likely hers to lose.
Jutta Leerdam (NED): While better known for the 1000m, where she just won gold and set a new Olympic record earlier this week, Leerdam is chasing a rare sprint double. She has the highest top-end speed in the field once she reaches the back straight. If Kok falters even slightly on a corner, Leerdam’s momentum from her 1000m victory makes her the most dangerous person on the ice.
Erin Jackson (USA): The defending Olympic champion from Beijing. Jackson thrives under the specific pressure of the Olympic stage. While her season has been slightly quieter compared to the Dutch duo, she remains a master of technical efficiency. She will be looking to spoil the Dutch sweep by relying on her experience and explosive jump off the line.
Min-Sun Kim (KOR): The top Asian contender who is looking for redemption after an 18th-place finish in the 1000m earlier this week. The 500m is her specialist distance, and she has consistently podiumed on the World Cup circuit this season. She is known for her high frequency and ability to maintain a tight line on the final inner-lane crossover.
Xandra Velzeboer (NED): Already the gold medalist in the 500m Short Track event at these games, Velzeboer is a fascinating wildcard. While her primary focus is short track, her raw acceleration is world-class. If she can translate her short track cornering aggression to the long track oval, she could be a surprise podium threat.
Prediction
Gold: Kok
Silver: Leerdam
Bronze: Jackson
Skeleton
Mixed team Skeleton
Matt Weston (GBR) & Tabby Stoecker (GBR): Fresh off his dominant individual gold, where he set four consecutive track records, Matt Weston is the man to beat. He enters Sunday looking to become the first British athlete to win two golds at a single Winter Games. He is likely to be paired with Tabby Stoecker, the highest-finishing British woman (5th), with whom he has already secured two World Championship silver medals. Their familiarity and Weston’s current invincible form make them the pre-race favourites.
Christopher Grotheer (GER) & Susanne Kreher (GER): Germany is the traditional powerhouse of team sliding, and they boast incredible depth. Susanne Kreher, the newly crowned Olympic silver medalist, and individual bronze medalist Christopher Grotheer are a formidable duo. Germany has won four of the last five world titles in this event, and their technical consistency on the track at Cortina means they rarely make the kind of small mistakes that cost teams a podium spot.
Yin Zheng (CHN) & Zhao Dan (CHN): China has emerged as a serious threat in sliding sports, and their mixed team program is built on explosive start times. Yin Zheng and Zhao Dan have been consistent podium threats on the World Cup circuit this year. Their advantage lies in their raw power at the top of the track; if they can secure a lead in the first five seconds of their runs, they have the aerodynamic discipline to hold off the Europeans on the technical lower sections.
Janine Flock (AUT) & Samuel Maier (AUT): Austria arrives with massive momentum after Janine Flock’s emotional individual gold. At 36, Flock’s veteran experience and ice-cool navigation of the technical turns at Cortina are her greatest assets. While their male counterpart, Samuel Maier, isn't as decorated as Weston or Grotheer, the Flock factor cannot be ignored. She is currently riding a wave of confidence that could carry the Austrian team to a historic double.
Mystique Ro (USA) & Austin Florian (USA): The Americans are the dark horses of the debut. Mystique Ro has seen success in this specific format on the World Cup circuit, and Austin Florian has shown flashes of top-five speed throughout the week. For Team USA to medal, they will need to execute perfect reaction starts, as they lack the raw top-end speed of the British and German sledges.
Prediction
Gold: Germany
Silver: Great Britain
Bronze: Austria
Ski Jumping
This is a historic moment for the sport. After years of campaigning, the women finally get their chance to fly on the Large Hill at the Olympics. The narrative entering this event is defined by the upset we saw earlier this week on the Normal Hill, where the unstoppable Slovenian favourite was finally beaten. The Large Hill (HS140) changes the equation significantly; it favours those who can generate lift in the second phase of the flight over those who rely purely on explosive takeoff power.
Nika Prevc (SLO): The undisputed "Queen of the Air" over the last two seasons. Prevc arrives at the Large Hill with a chip on her shoulder after settling for Silver on the Normal Hill earlier this week. While the smaller hill neutralises her greatest asset, her ability to hold speed in the final third of the flight, the Large Hill is her natural habitat. She is the current World Record holder and has won 80% of the Large Hill events on the World Cup tour this season. Anything less than Gold will be considered a failure for the 20-year-old superstar.
Anna Odine Strøm (NOR): The newly crowned Normal Hill Olympic Champion. Strøm produced the shock of the Games so far by edging out Prevc for Gold three days ago, riding a wave of confidence that makes her incredibly dangerous. While she has historically been more consistent on smaller hills, her form is currently undeniable. The question is whether she can maintain her aggressive takeoff technique on the larger radius of the HS140 without scrubbing too much speed.
Alexandria Loutitt (CAN): If there is anyone who can match Prevc for raw distance, it is the Canadian World Champion. Loutitt is a pure flyer who often struggles with landing telemarks because she jumps too far for the hill size. The transition to the Large Hill is a massive advantage for her. She had a disappointing finish on the Normal Hill (placing outside the top 5), but she has arguably the highest ceiling in the field if she catches a favourable headwind.
Eva Pinkelnig (AUT): The 37-year-old veteran provides the perfect counter-balance to the youthful aggression of Prevc and Loutitt. She rarely produces the longest jump of the day, but she almost never misses a landing. In an event where the younger jumpers might push too hard and crash or lose style points, Pinkelnig’s consistency makes her the safest bet for a podium finish. She is looking to add a Large Hill medal to the Bronze she secured earlier this week.
Yuki Ito (JPN): With Sara Takanashi fading slightly from her peak dominance, Yuki Ito has emerged as the leader of the Japanese squad. She is known as the technician of the field, with a flight curve that is lower and more piercing than her rivals. This style is risky on the Large Hill; if she is early on the takeoff, she won't have the height to recover, but if the wind conditions are turbulent, her low profile cuts through the air better than anyone else.
Katharina Schmid (GER): The German hope has been lurking around the podium all season without securing a major win. She finished fourth on the Normal Hill, missing a medal by less than two points. That near-miss frustration often fuels a massive performance in the second event. Schmid is excellent at timing the transition from takeoff to flight, which is critical on the long, flat knoll of the Cortina Large Hill.
Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR): The wildcard of the event. Kvandal generates more power at the takeoff table than any other woman in history, but she is plagued by inconsistency and knee issues that sometimes force her to start from a lower gate than the rest of the field. If the jury allows her to jump from the same gate as Prevc and Loutitt, she is a gold medal contender; if they lower her gate for safety, she may struggle to make up the point deficit.
Prediction
Gold: Prevc
Silver: Loutitt
Bronze: Schmid
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