On the last day of the 47th FIS Junior World Championships and U23 World Championships in Nordic Skiing, the weather did not spare the competitors who were vying for the final sets of medals in the mixed relays. In the junior category, the competition remained interesting until the end, and the decision about the champions was only made in the last leg. Evelina Crusell from Sweden turned a 21-second deficit behind in the last five kilometers into a 13.9-second lead over the Norwegian team for her second gold medal in this championship, after previously winning in the 10 km distance. Alongside her, Alvar Myhlback also celebrated his second gold, Anton Grahn added gold to his sprint silver, and Mira Goeransson rejoiced in her first medal in Planica. Norway, represented by Mons Melbye, Anniken Sand (who won her third medal), Joergen Nordhagn (leaving Planica with two medals), and Milli Grosberghaugen Andreassen, secured the silver. Italy, with Davide Ghio, bronze medalist in the 20 km, Iris De Martin Pintar, Akles Artusi (silver in the 20 km), and Maria Gismondi, the champion in the 20 km distance in Planica, claimed the bronze with a 45-second lag.
The home relay secured the 16th place in extremely challenging conditions, displaying a fighting spirit until the end. Bor Petrovič, Lucija Medja, Tine Šporn, and Tia Janežič finished more than six minutes behind Sweden.
The last discipline at the Planica Championships in cross-country skiing was the mixed relay of younger male and female athletes. The competition remained tense until the end, and in the end, Canada celebrates its second gold medal in this age category! Making history were Derek Deuling, Jasmine Drolet, Max Hollmann, and Liliane Gagnon, who edged out the French team of Remi Bourdin, Julie Pierrel, Mathis Desloges, and Maelle Veyre by 7 tenths of a second. For the latter two, this is their second medal in Planica, with Desloges winning gold in the 20 km and Veyre claiming bronze in the same distance. The Swedish team, consisting of Maans Skoglund, Elin Henriksson, Truls Gisselman, and Maerta Rosenberg, salvaged Scandinavian honor with a bronze, just a fraction behind France. Rosenberg had already won bronze in the 10 km competition.
Slovenia, represented by Nejc Štern, Zala Šepič, Boštjan Korošec, and Eva Močnik, finished in 15th place with a lag of over eight minutes behind Canada.
Statement after the race:
Jasmine Drolet: "I had some expectations for today. I knew we had a shot for medal but I was not sure we were gonna get it. It is amazing."
