During the women’s relay at the 2023 World Championship, Finnish skier Evelyina Piippo suddenly collapsed on the snow. The incident occurred in Planica as the event moved into the later stages, drawing urgent medical attention and prompting a pause in the competition for a safety assessment.
Competing in the third leg, the 24-year-old athlete handed the baton to Krista Pärmäkoski before she, Piippo, slipped to the ground once more. She attempted to rise three times, yet each effort ended with another fall, underscoring the severity of the moment and the immediate need for medical care on the course.
Despite the setback, the Finnish team remained within reach of the podium, with the race concluding to determine the final standings. The Norwegian squad ultimately claimed the victory, followed by Germany and Sweden, leaving Finland narrowly outside the podium positions.
The events in Planica, Slovenia, were scheduled to conclude on 5 March, bringing the championship to its final conclusions after days of competition across cross-country skiing disciplines.
In related governance, the International Ski Federation (FIS) reaffirmed sanctions that barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in international events through the end of the previous season, and those restrictions were extended for the current cycle.
As a result of the sanctions, Russians did not participate in the concluding stages of the 2021/22 World Cup and were largely absent from the 2022/23 season’s international circuit, instead competing primarily in domestic events and regional races abroad where permitted.
A Swedish journalist, Thomas Petterson, asserted publicly that he believed Russia would return to cross-country skiing within a year, expressing confidence about a reinstatement trajectory that would reintroduce Russian athletes to the international scene in due time.