Trondheim, Norway – Vilde Nilsen of Norway achieved a landmark victory on Tuesday, claiming her first Paralympic gold medal in the classic sprint cross-country skiing event. The 25-year-old triumphed in the paraskiclass, edging out Canada’s Natalie Wilkie by a mere 20 hundredths of a second in a thrilling finish at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. This marks a significant moment as it was the first time Para Cross-Country athletes competed alongside their able-bodied counterparts at the same event, a milestone for inclusivity in the sport.
Nilsen, a Tromsø native, demonstrated her dominance throughout the race, starting from the back and quickly surging into the lead within 2.40 minutes. Her strong finish in the final stretch secured the gold with a time of 3:31.3, finishing 4.2 seconds ahead of Sydney Peterson of the United States, who took silver. The victory follows her World Championship gold in Granåsen last season, solidifying her position as a leading force in Para Nordic skiing.
“I can hardly believe it. It’s incredibly huge for me to achieve this,” Nilsen told NRK, visibly emotional after the win. “There has been a lot of pressure on me, but I managed to focus my thoughts.” Nilsen had previously earned two silver and one bronze medal at the Paralympics in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, making this gold a particularly poignant achievement.
The historic event in Trondheim also saw record prize money awarded to Para athletes, with a total of NOK 1 million ($90,000) distributed among the 24 medalists. Gold medalists received NOK 60,000 ($5,400), over seven times the amount awarded at the 2021 Lillehammer Para Snow Sports World Championships, as reported by FIS.
Canadian Contingent Sees Mixed Results
Even as Nilsen celebrated gold, Canada’s Natalie Wilkie, a seven-time Paralympic medalist entering the Milan Cortina Paralympics, finished just behind, securing the silver medal. Wilkie, who has been a consistent performer in cross-country events, continues to pursue a biathlon medal, an event where she finished 15th at the 2022 Beijing Games. She was named one of Canada’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Milan Cortina Paralympics, which open on Friday. TSN reports that Wilkie is among the headliners of Canada’s 50-athlete team.
Other Canadian athletes also competed on Tuesday. Indira Liseth was eliminated in the semifinals of the women’s sitting class, while Oksana Masters of the United States, originally from Ukraine, took gold. In the men’s standing class, Kjartan Haugen finished 5th, with Raman Svirydzenka of Belarus winning the gold. Thomas Oxaal placed fourth in the visually impaired class, 11.2 seconds behind the winner, Jake Adicoff of the USA.
A Landmark Event for Para Cross-Country Skiing
The inclusion of Para Cross-Country events within the main FIS Nordic World Ski Championships program represents a significant step forward for the sport. FIS reports that the event was a dream come true for many athletes, showcasing the talent and dedication within the Para Cross-Country community. Natalie Wilkie had previously topped the qualifiers with a time of 3:47.17, a staggering nine seconds ahead of Nilsen, demonstrating her strong form leading into the final.
Looking ahead, the Milan Cortina Paralympics will be a key focus for these athletes as they continue to push the boundaries of their sport. The success of this inclusive event in Trondheim signals a positive trajectory for Para Cross-Country skiing, with increased recognition and investment paving the way for future growth and opportunities.
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