Elias Nordahl, Sasja Joelsen Henriksen, Marika Magnussen and Qunnaaq Jensen, cross-country ski talents, will start at the Junior World Championships in cross-country skiing in Lillehammer, Norway, on March 2. The four Greenlandic junior runners will compete in the sprint, 10 km, 20 km and mixed relay, where they will have the opportunity to compete against some of the world's strongest cross-country skiing nations.
At the championships, the runners will wear the new national team uniforms with the Greenlandic flag, even though they are competing under the Danish Ski Federation. The uniforms give the athletes a strong sense of pride, and several Greenlandic spectators have already signed up to travel to Lillehammer to support them.
National coach Martin Møller expresses great pride in the development.
- It is impressive to see how much they have progressed in recent years. They have worked seriously, trained steadily and shown that they want this. I am very proud of their development, says Martin Møller.
He also emphasizes that the participation can mark the beginning of a new era for Greenlandic cross-country skiing.
- I believe that this can be the start of a new era, where we will once again have Greenlandic cross-country skiers at the highest international level. It takes courage and hard work to take the step and compete outside Greenland, and they have done that. I hope it inspires more young runners back home in Greenland, says the national coach.
For the four athletes, the Junior World Championships are an opportunity to both test their skills against international competition and gather important experience. Now they are looking forward to taking on the challenge and giving their best at the starting line in Lillehammer.
