Latvian Skiers Miss Olympic Sprint Qualification in Milan-Cortina

Latvia’s Raimo Vīgants finished 51st in the classic sprint at the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Games on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

In qualifying, Vīgants posted the best result among the Latvian contingent, placing 52nd overall. Lauris Kaparkalējs finished 57th, while Niks Saulītis was 77th.

Norway’s Johannes Klæbo was the fastest in the 1.5-kilometer race, crossing the finish line in 3 minutes and 7.37 seconds. The top 30 skiers advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Vīgants completed the distance in 3 minutes and 26.26 seconds, more than seven seconds behind the 30th-place qualifier. Kaparkalējs finished in 3 minutes and 28.33 seconds, and Saulītis was approximately ten seconds slower.

“I don’t know what happened. I didn’t expect such a sizeable gap,” Vīgants said to Latvian Television (LTV) after the race. “But a sprint is a sprint, that’s just how it goes.”

Vīgants noted that his skis and glide were good, but the course proved challenging with two technical climbs where he couldn’t execute his plan as intended.

Saulītis said everything felt good during the race, but he “didn’t hit” the right ski choice, struggling on the uphill sections. “I think we’ll move much better on the downhill and be much happier,” said the Olympic Games debutant.

“It was a dynamic course, the weather conditions were relatively speedy, and I chose the safer option with my skis, more of a holding option, maybe a little less glide,” Kaparkalējs added. “But that was fine.”

A total of 95 skiers participated in the qualifying round. The competition was broadcast live on LTV7.

Vīgants, Krampe, and Auziņa are representing Latvia in distance skiing at these, their second Olympic Games. In the previous Games, Vīgants reached the elimination round in the freestyle sprint, finishing 20th.

The Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Games continue through February 22.