10 Cross Country Ski Male Athletes to Watch out for at the 2018 Winter Olympics

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Sara Falconer Feb 13, 2018 0 comments

10 Cross Country Ski Male Athletes to Watch out for at the 2018 Winter Olympics

10 Women to Watch out for at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Cross Country Skiing

TThe 2018 Winter Olympic Games have just begun, and hundreds of cross country skiers are converging in South Korea to compete for a world title.

Here is a list of 10 cross country ski male athletes to watch out for and will also most likely walk away with a medal.

See below for race updates and additional 2018 Winter Olympic Cross Country Ski blog posts.

	Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo 21, Norway Klaebo is the new star of the Norwegian team. Just 21 years old, he leads the Under 23 standings as well as the Overall World Cup standings. Klaebo has proved himself to be strong sprinter, and will often finish first in mass start distance events. He is known for his fast turnover run/stride classic technique up steep hills, so much so that the technique has come to be known as the “Klaebo”. His best event is the classic sprint. He has won all three classic sprints this year by incredible margins, and will almost certainly take the win in Peongchang. He is also a favorite to win the 30k Skiathlon*.
	Martin Johnsrud Sundby 33, Norway Small, light, and quick, Sundby has championed the distance events for Norway over the last few years. In mass start events, he will typically ski unnoticed in the pack until the last lap where he will make a break, usually on an uphill, and leave the rest of the field behind. Sundby holds a silver Olympic medal in the team relay and a bronze Olympic medal in the Skiathlon. Will 2018 be his chance for gold? He will going for it in the 15km Skiathlon and the 30km Classic events*. Update: Martin Johnsrud Sundby wins silver in the Mens' 15km + 15m Skiathlon Source: www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results
	Emil Iversen 26, Norway Iversen was a Junior World Relay Champion in 2011, however he didn’t ski on the world cup until 2015. He has four world cup wins in sprint and mass start races. However, he is probably best known for the disastrous fall at the end of the 2017 sprint relay that dropped the Norwegian team from first to fourth place in the World Championships. Will Iversen get a second chance at a team event this Olympics? He will be trying for an individual title in the Classic Sprint event*.
	Maurice Manificat 31, France Manificat has a signature event: the 15km Skate interval start. This year that event will be held in the Olympics, and he almost certain to make the podium. Manificat won the 15km skate event in Davos, clocked the fastest time in Ruka and Lenzerheide, and has consistently finished among the top five in the Skate 15km all season long*.
	Dario Cologna 31, Switzerland Cologna is the champion of the last two 15km Olympic events. He took the 15km Skate in Vancouver in 2010, and he took the 15km Classic as well as the 30km Skiathlon in Sochi in 2014. Now, he’s returning for his hat trick of 15km Individual events. He has three 15km wins to his name so far this season, and was the winner of the 2018 Tour de Ski*.
	Alex Harvey 29, Canada Harvey is the most likely male competitor to win a cross country medal for North America. He is both a talented sprinter and distance skier, although he is known for his strong performances in the skate technique. Harvey will often let his competitors lead the race until the finishing sprint, where he can pull ahead in the final 200m. This Olympics he is a strong contender for the 30km Skiathlon and the 15km Skate events*.
	Iivo Niskanen 26, Finland Niskanen is one of the strongest classic skiers in the Olympic games this year. He is known for his beautifully efficient classic striding technique. He was the champion of the 15km classic event last year, and is a contender for the 50km classic and 30km Skiathlon events*.
	Calle Halvarsson 28, Sweden Like many Swedish athletes this season, Halvarsson has reduced the number of races he entered this season to ensure he is fresh for the Olympic games. However, in the few weeks he has finished on the podium in both a 15km Classic and a Skate Sprint, proving that he is on form for multiple events. His best chance at a medal is in the Classic Sprint or the Skate Team Sprint. However, he could also be competitive in the 15km Skate*.
	Alexey Poltoranin 30, Kazakhstan Poltoranin is a classic specialist, also known for his efficient classic stride and powerful double pole technique. He has won eight classic 15km events over the course of his career, and is a favorite for the 50km Classic event*.
	Alexander Bolshunov 21, Olympic Athletes of Russia Bolshunov is a promising young talent from Russia, and is ranked second in the Under 23 category, behind Johannes Klaebo. This is his first season on the world cup, and already he has five 3rd place finishes. Although Bolshunov was never found guilty of any doping violations, he will be competing under a neutral suit and name (OAR). The International Olympic Committee has chosen to ban the Russian name, flag, and anthem from the games in response to the doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics*.