Cross-country skiers qualify for the Junior World Championships

Marika Magnussen and Sasja Joelsen Hendriksen, cross-country runners, have qualified for the Junior WC in Lillehammer 2026.

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

Marika Magnussen and Sasja Joelsen Hendriksen, cross-country runners, have qualified for the Junior WC in Lillehammer 2026.

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

Both Marika and Sasja currently live in Meråker, Norway, where they are part of a Norway's most recognized cross-country skiing environments. Here they combine their studies with a targeted investment in cross-country skiing, and their strong cooperation as a duo has been a decisive factor in their success. Their performance on it international scene shows what dedication, hard work and a supportive training environment can lead to.

That is worth noting that the two young athletes have already achieved the qualification after their first race of the season, at the Gålå Norges Cup. Here they both delivered impressive results and qualified directly for the Junior WC, far below they demanded 20 percent from the winner. Marika Magnussen came 9.9 percent behind the winner, while Sasja Joelsen Hendriksen was 15.9 percent behind. An extraordinary performance in international junior cross-country skiing, emphasizing both their talent and their industriousness.

Chairman for UA, Marie Fleischer, emphasizes that cross-country's focus on young talents de recent years have borne fruit.

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

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

- This is a milestone for Greenlandic cross-country skiing. Marika and Sasja have been working rock hard – both in Denmark/Greenland and after their move to Meråker. They have shown stability, maturity and a willingness to develop each and every week. I super proud of them. And we hope that we can also get 1–2 extra runners with us when the last qualifying races will be 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 environment.