Andorran Skier Gina del Rio Crashes to 12th in U23 Worlds Sprint After Collision

Andorran cross-country skier Gina del Rio finished 12th overall in the women's skating sprint at the under-23 World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, after a collision with Sweden's Elin Henriksson dropped her from the lead to last in her semifinal heat.

Del Rio posted the eighth-fastest qualifying time of 2:59.08 over the 1.4km course among 65 competitors, 2.82 seconds behind leader Elin Naeslund of Sweden. She then won her quarterfinal heat—facing France's Leonie Perry, Italy's Nadine Laurent, Czechia's Anna Marie Jaklova, and Finland's Selene Rossi and Silva Kemppi—with a time of 2:56.20. Starting with an early tangle on a climb, she recovered strongly to cross first.

In the second semifinal, alongside Henriksson, Perry, USA's Samantha Smith, Sweden's Evelina Crusell, and Finland's Nora Kytaja, Del Rio surged ahead after the initial climb and held first or second position. During a long downhill left-hand turn, Henriksson attempted to pass inside twice, making contact that sent Del Rio crashing to last place in 3:11.29. The moment went uncaptured by TV cameras. Henriksson later won gold in 2:58.01, with Norway's Mina Sofie Kjaeraas Moland and Helene Ekrheim Haugen taking silver and bronze.

FAE cross-country director Xabier del Val, Del Rio's coach, called it a tough day despite her sharp form. "Gina was skiing well, as she showed in the quarterfinal and up to that point in the semifinal," he said. "When she was first or second, she had a small collision with the Swede, fell, and both Gina and the whole team are very disappointed to have lost this chance for a good result, because we knew we had the capacity." He added that sprint racing involves frequent contacts and emphasized looking ahead.

The result matched Del Rio's 12th place from the previous weekend's World Cup skating sprint in Falun, Sweden. This was her final U23 Worlds appearance. Last year in Schilpario, Italy, she earned classic sprint bronze behind Sweden's Maerta Rosenberg and Elin Henriksson, plus 20th in the 20km classic mass start and 22nd in the 10km skate. At the 2024 junior Worlds in Planica, she claimed skating sprint gold, 10km classic silver, and 20km skate mass start bronze. Her best senior Worlds result was 10th in the skating sprint at Trondheim.

The team traveled directly to Finland for the Lahti World Cup, where Del Rio is scheduled for Saturday's skating sprint and Sunday's 10km classic individual.