Niko Anttola

Niko Anttola (born 13 February 2003) is a Finnish cross-country skier. He is best known for winning a silver medal in relay the 2023 World Championships.

Career

He hails from Tornio and is coached by his father, Marko Anttola.[1] At the 2021 Junior World Championships he won a silver medal in the 4 × 5 kilometre relay, followed by a silver medal in the 10 kilometre race at the 2022 Junior World Championships. At the 2023 Junior World Championships he won the gold medal in the 10 kilometre race and the silver medal in the 20 kilometres.[2][3][4]

He made his World Cup debut in February 2022 in Lahti, collecting his first World Cup points during the 2022–23 FIS Cross-Country World Cup. He broke into the top 20 for the first time in March 2024 in Lahti, finishing 19th in the 20 kilometres.[2]

At the 2023 World Championships in Planica, he finished 24th in the 15 kilometre race and won a silver medal in the 4 × 10 kilometre relay.[2] He was described by YLE as a wildcard for the relay team; when the World Cup season started in late 2022, "Those who envisioned Niko Anttola as the anchor in the World Championships relay can barely be regarded as sane".[5]

The 2023–24 season was spoiled by illnesses.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Karhu, Ann-Christine (16 January 2024). "Var håller VM-hjälten Niko Anttola hus? – pappan avslöjar för HS: Utdragna hälsoproblem har spolierat säsongen" (in Swedish). YLE. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Niko Anttola at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
  3. ^ Henrichson, Niklas (31 January 2023). "Niko Anttola knep silver i masstarten – VM-medaljen var Finlands femte" (in Swedish). YLE. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ Båsk, Wilma (3 February 2023). "VM-guld! Niko Anttola slog norrmännen – "Nu fick jag den där segern"" (in Swedish). YLE. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  5. ^ Ahlnäs, Mats (3 March 2023). "Hela landets blickar vilade på en 20-åring – man skäms nästan för att man tvivlade" (in Swedish). YLE. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
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