FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2013 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy, is brought to you by the generous support of Fischer Sports.
VAL DI FIEMME, Italy — They say a picture is worth a thousand words — we took almost a thousand pictures of the women’s team sprint on Sunday at the 2013 Nordic World Ski Championships. Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall made history for the United States in winning the country’s first-ever world championships gold medal. We’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking:
In a sea of Norwegian flags, a few stars and stripes proudly wave.
Lap 1: Jessie Diggins (USA) and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (NOR) lead the women’s team sprint final out of the stadium.
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The women shoot down a sweeping descent.
Around the 180-degree corner.
Oestberg leads the charge over the Viessman crest for the first exchange.
Kikkan Randall (USA) and Ida Ingemarsdotter (SWE) are first out of the exchange zone on the second lap.
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Randall controlling the pace.
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Up the big climb…
…and down the other side.
A Norway-USA-Poland-Sweden fight at the front.
Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR) leads Randall around the 180 turn.
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Lap 3: Kalla leads Oestberg up the first climb.
Diggins hangs with the pack, just in front of Hanna Kolb (GER).
Lap 4: Norway leads USA around the turn.
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The women head for the exchange on lap 4, Norway leading the rest of the field hot on her tails.
Diggins and Riikka Sarasoja-Lilja (FIN) head out for their last leg on lap 5.
Diggins, after losing and regaining a pole, leads Sweden and Finland through the last exchange.
Diggins hammering, Kalla in her wake.
After one last lap, Randall leaves the field in her dust and enters the stadium all lone.
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Randall all smiles as she nears the line over seven seconds ahead of Ingemarsdotter.
Randall and Diggins become world champions.
A happy Randall smiles for the cameras.
Sweden congratulates USA on their race.
This is what being world champion feels like.
Diggins rejoins her teammate.
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Tears of joy.
And high-fives.
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The requisite kiss.
And belly-bump.
The rest of Team USA waits to congratulate the new world champions.
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Diggins and Randall are interviewed for FIS by Randall’s husband, Jeff Ellis.
Flora watches Randall and Diggins take to the podium.
One comment
shreddir
February 25, 2013 at 7:14 pm
more high res pictures here:
http://www.newspower.it/comunicati/Fiemme/immagini/Fiemme2013/CrossCountry/24_02_Fiemme2013_TeamSprint_Ladies.htm