Ebba Andersson Dominates Inaugural Women's 50km, Wins Gold

Sweden's Ebba Andersson powers to gold in women's 50km cross-country skiing

Ebba Andersson of Sweden wins inaugural women's Olympic 50km cross-country skiing gold. Andersson dominates women's 50km, overcoming setbacks to claim historic gold.

Ebba Andersson, a six-time world champion, has finally claimed her first Olympic gold medal...

Ebba Andersson of Sweden dominated the inaugural women's Olympic cross-country skiing 50km classical event, securing her first gold medal with a time of 2:16:28.2 in Tesero. This victory marks a redemptive moment for Andersson, who suffered setbacks earlier in the competition, including falls in the team relay that cost Sweden a gold medal.

Andersson led the pack from the early stages, pulling away from Norway's Heidi Weng, who took silver, and Switzerland's Nadja Kaelin, who claimed bronze. The win is a testament to Andersson's perseverance and skill, making her the first Olympic women's 50km champion.

Ebba Andersson's crashes in the 4x7.5km relay had denied Sweden a gold medal, preventing the team from sweeping all women's cross-country gold medals at Milan-Cortina. This was Andersson's third silver medal of the Games, having finished second in both the 10km freestyle and 20km skiathlon events.

Andersson was under pressure to bounce back and claim her first individual Olympic title, especially with teammates Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling absent from the 50km event due to illness. The weight of Sweden's hopes rested on her shoulders.

If there was any pressure on Andersson, she didn't show it, leading at every checkpoint and pulling clear with a group of four. Weng, Austria's Teresa Stadlober, and Jessie Diggins of the USA were giving it their all, but it was clear the Swede was in control.

However, Diggins' crash around 8km 

changed the game, putting her on the backfoot. That's when Andersson and Weng made their move, pulling away from Stadlober and leaving the competition behind.

At the halfway point, Ebba Andersson and Heidi Weng were leading the pack with a 1:45 advantage over Austria's Teresa Stadlober. Meanwhile, Kerttu Niskanen of Finland, Kristin Austgulen Fosnaes of Norway, and Jessie Diggins of the USA were hot on Stadlober's heels, vying for the bronze medal.

Ebba Andersson's stumble at the 28.8km ski change looked like a nightmare come true, especially after her earlier relay mishap. But the determined Swede quickly regained her footing and seized the opportunity to attack with fresh skis. She pushed hard, opening up a 10-second gap with 20km to go, and continued her relentless pace, increasing the lead to 30 seconds by the 36km mark.

Andersson's resilience and skill paid off, as she went on to dominate the rest of the race and claim gold in the inaugural women's 50km cross-country skiing event. 

Ebba Andersson of Sweden maintained her lead, starting the final 7km lap with a 1:13 advantage over Heidi Weng of Norway. It seemed almost certain that Andersson and Weng would finish first and second, given Weng's significant lead - over three-and-a-half minutes ahead of the group of five vying for bronze, including Switzerland's Nadja Kaelin.

Eliza Rucka-Michalek's strong finish added to the intensity of the battle for the final medal spot, narrowing it down to a six-skier contest. Meanwhile, Andersson powered through the final hill, receiving a fantastic reception as she crossed the finish line to claim gold with a time of 2:16:28.2.

Heidi Weng of Norway secured silver, adding to her collection of one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the Games. Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland took bronze, impressing with her smooth final climb that allowed her to pull away from the rest of the group.

Kristin Austgulen Fosnaes of Norway narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth, while Jessie Diggins of the USA rounded out the top five. Diggins' performance was notable, given she was racing in her final Olympic event.

EBBA ANDERSSON TAR OS-GULD! 🥇🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/gQOrhkrMDv

— Sports on HBO Max 🇸🇪 (@sportshbomaxse) February 22, 2026

Ebba Andersson, a six-time world champion, has finally claimed her first Olympic gold medal, adding to her impressive collection of three silvers from 2026, a bronze from Beijing 2022, and a silver from Pyeongchang 2018. This victory marks a remarkable achievement in her career, showcasing her exceptional skill and determination in cross-country skiing.

Sweden had a phenomenal performance in the women's cross-country events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing five gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal across six events. This impressive haul highlights Sweden's dominance in the sport, with Andersson's gold medal being a standout moment.