Finland’s relay team with Amanda Yli Futka and Niklas Ekström took a narrow win ahead of Sweden and Switzerland in an ever-changing Sprint Relay on Tuesday at FISU World University Games in Italy.
21 teams on the start line in Pragelato Tuesday afternoon. All photos: Torino 2025 FISU Games
Four different teams had the lead throughout the 45 minutes of relay racing before the Finns could claim the final set of Ski Orienteering gold medals in Pragelato.
Sweden started out the best as Anna Aasa led the relay into the first exchange of the two-person, six-legged relay.
Then Norway (Idunn Strand og Teodor Mo Hjelseth), Switzerland (Delia Giezendanner and Corsin Elias Boos) and Finland took turns taking the lead.
At the final exchange, Norway was leading but had the three chasing teams less than 20 seconds behind them.
Corsin Elias Boos (SUI) during Tuesday’s Sprint Relay.
Niklas Ekström secured the gold for Finland, while a strong racing Jonatan Ståhl (SWE) climbed to second place and Corsin Elias Boos stayed close behind in bronze position.
“It feels amazing – this was the perfect race for me. I focused on staying as stable as possible on my legs, and it really paid off. The snow in the forest was quite varied today; in some places, it was much faster than in others, which made it a real challenge”, Ekström said after the race.
Top 3 in Tuesday’s Sprint Relay. From left, Sweden (Anna Aasa, Jonatan Ståhl), Finland (Niklas Ekström, Amanda Yli Futka) and Switzerland (Delia Giezendanner, Corsin Elias Boos)
Ski Orienteering returned to the FISU World University Winter Games in Turin, Italy this year and both races were broadcasted globally through FISU.TV.
It will be a compulsory sport at the games from 2027.