FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships 2021 By Doris Kallen, Horst Nilgen and Silke Tegethof
Nordic youngsters at their best From 8th-14th February 2021, junior and U23 Nordic athletes competed for titles in a total of 20 competitions. Vuokatti (FIN) hosted the Cross-Country events and Lahti (FIN) was home to the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping athletes. With great organisation under strict Covid-19 protocols, the field of play was kept safe. Due to cold temperatures, the event schedule for Cross-Country events had to be modified. However, all events were held with thrilling fights for titles.
Cross-Country Thirteen title events awaited in the junior and U23 categories. With a spectacular Sprint C in the junior categories, Monika Skinder (POL) was crowned the first winner of the events. Niilo Moilanen (FIN) took the Sprint victory in the men’s race, handing the host country its first medal. Lisa Lohmann (GER) and the outstanding Alexander Terentev (RUS) took victories in the U23 categories. Due to the modified event schedule, the third competition day was a busy one with all distance events for the juniors and U23 taking place. In the 5 km Freestyle, Veronika Stepanova (RUS) took the lead right from the start and crossed the finish line with an incredible margin of 16 seconds. Martin Kirkeberg Moerk (NOR) had his eyes clearly on victory in the 10 km Freestyle, which he won with a margin of 14.9 seconds. The women’s U23 distance competitions were controlled by Izabela Marcisz (POL) who captured her country’s third medal in the Championships. In the men’s race, Hugo
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