Elsa Tänglander was the fastest in the qualifier and also won the quarter-final and semi-final before she was also the strongest in the final. The Swede was challenged above all by compatriot Kajsa Johansson and Finland's Nellie-Lotta Kärppelin.
Johansson responded fastest at the start, but when the 1.5 kilometer long sprint course entered the uphill run, Tänglander advanced.
- I like the courses here and I like uphill, she says.
Won after sprint battle
Kärppelin was indeed the first to enter the race, but both Tänglander and Johansson passed the Finn.
- We had talked about bone skating for an extra long time to get the speed of the race with us. That tactic worked well, says Tänglander.
After a sprint battle, Tänglander was 26 hundredths ahead of Johansson and 48 hundredths ahead of Kärppelin.
- It was difficult to know how you stood in the competition before the race. I had hoped to make it to the final, but I didn't think I would win gold.
Distance races await next
Sweden has now won ten medals at the Youth Olympics in South Korea. It is noteworthy that the sprint course was on the same terrain as where Stina Nilsson won Olympic gold in 2018.
On Tuesday, 7.5 kilometers in classic style await both girls and boys.
- I'm more of a distance skier and really look forward to riding 7.5 kilometers in classic style, says Kajsa Johansson.