Milano-Cortina, Italy – In a historic performance for Latvian cross-country skiing, the duo of Patrīcija Eiduka and Liga Auziņa finished 13th in the women’s team sprint at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday. While a medal proved just out of reach, the result marks the first time Latvia has reached the final of a team sprint competition at either the Olympics or World Championships, a significant milestone for the nation’s winter sports program. The Swedish team, comprised of Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlkvist, secured the gold medal, continuing their dominance in the event, while Switzerland took silver and Germany claimed bronze.
The team sprint format requires each skier to complete three laps. Eiduka delivered a strong opening leg for Latvia, gaining five seconds on the leading pack. After the first two laps, Latvia trailed Sweden by 11.7 seconds, a gap that proved challenging to close. Auziņa maintained their position throughout her legs, finishing ahead of the Czech team by 15 seconds and the Estonian team by 22 seconds. Eiduka’s individual lap times were 8th, 13th, and 7th, while Auziņa recorded times of 13th, 13th, and 14th in her respective stages.
From the start, the Swedish team established a commanding lead, building on their silver medal performance at the previous Olympics. Nadīna Fendriha of Switzerland mounted a strong challenge in the final stretch, but Sundling and Dahlkvist held on for the victory. The Swiss pairing of Fendriha and Nadja Kälin secured Switzerland’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s team sprint. The German team of Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek edged out Norway in a photo finish to claim the bronze, repeating their gold medal performance from the previous Games with a different lineup (Katerina Hennig and Victoria Karl).
Norwegian Disappointment and Klæbo’s Golden Run
The result marked the second consecutive Olympic Games without a medal for Norway in the women’s team sprint. In a separate event, Norwegian skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo continued his remarkable run at the Milano-Cortina Games, securing his tenth career Olympic gold medal in the men’s team sprint alongside teammate Einar Hegstad. The American duo of Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher took silver, while Italy’s Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino earned the bronze.
Klæbo has now won every men’s cross-country skiing event at these Olympic Games, setting the stage for a potential sweep if he can triumph in the 50-kilometer mass start on February 21st. His dominance has been a defining feature of the competition thus far.
Baltic Competition and Team Changes
The Estonian team of Mariela Pullesa and Keidi Käsiu also performed well, finishing 12th and besting Latvia in the Baltic duel. In the men’s event, the Latvian team of Lauris Kaparkalējs and Niks Saulītis did not advance from the qualification round, finishing 17th, but still achieved the highest placement among the Baltic nations. Saulītis replaced Raimo Vīgants in the Latvian lineup due to a minor illness, though it is not expected to prevent Vīgants from competing in the 50-kilometer mass start.
OS Komandu Sprinta Fināls Sievietēm
| V | Valsts | Laiks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Zviedrija | 20:29.99 |
| 2. | Šveice | +1.40 |
| 3. | Vācija | +5.87 |
| 4. | Norvēģija | +6.01 |
| 5. | ASV | +11.54 |
| 6. | Kanāda | +19.44 |
| 7. | Francija | +23.62 |
| 8. | Itālija | +40.88 |
| 9. | Somija | +43.38 |
| 10. | Austrija | +1:00.96 |
| 11. | Polija | +1:01.81 |
| 12. | Igaunija | +1:04.96 |
| 13. | Latvija | +1:26.06 |
| 14. | Čehija | +1:41.44 |
| 15. | Ķīna | +2:47.62 |
The Latvian team’s performance represents a significant step forward for the nation’s cross-country skiing program, offering a promising outlook for future competitions. The team’s qualification for the final, a first for Latvia in a major international event, demonstrates the growing strength of the sport within the country.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2026 Winter Olympics, including updated schedules and results, at Sportacentrs.com. Live coverage is also available on the Go3 platform.
The next key event in cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina Games is the men’s 50-kilometer mass start, scheduled for February 21st, where Klæbo will attempt to add another gold medal to his impressive tally. Stay tuned for further updates as the Games continue.
