Cross-country skiers qualify for the Junior World Championships

Marika Magnussen and Sasja Joelsen Hendriksen, cross-country skiers, have qualified for the Junior World Championships in Lillehammer 2026.

This marks a historic milestone for cross-country skiing, as there has been no participation from Greenland at the Junior World Championships since 2013.

Both Marika and Sasja currently live in Meråker, Norway, where they are part of one of Norway's most renowned cross-country skiing communities. Here they combine their studies with a focused commitment to cross-country skiing, and their strong collaboration as a duo has been a crucial factor in their success. Their achievements on the international stage show what dedication, hard work and a supportive training environment can lead to.

It is worth noting that the two young athletes have already qualified after their first race of the season, at the Gålå Norwegian Cup. Here they both delivered impressive results and qualified directly for the Junior World Championships, well below the required 20 percent behind the winner. Marika Magnussen came 9.9 percent behind the winner, while Sasja Joelsen Hendriksen was 15.9 percent behind. An extraordinary achievement in international junior cross-country skiing that emphasizes both their talent and their hard work.

Chair of the UA, Marie Fleischer, emphasizes that cross-country skiing's focus on young talent in recent years has borne fruit.

- We are extremely proud of Marika and Sasja and their great effort. They show what dedicated work, a strong club environment and good training frameworks can lead to. We hope that 1–2 more young people can qualify in January, as there are still more qualifying races missing. We believe in them, says Marie Fleischer.

National coach Martin Møller shares the same enthusiasm and acknowledges the tireless efforts of the two cross-country skiers.

- This is a milestone for Greenlandic cross-country skiing. Marika and Sasja have worked hard – both in Denmark/Greenland and after their move to Meråker. They have shown stability, maturity and a willingness to develop every week. I am super proud of them. And we hope that we can also get 1–2 extra runners when the last qualifying races are completed in January, says the national coach.

The qualification not only marks a big step for Marika and Sasja, but for the entire cross-country skiing community.