Sandra Näslund 2nd in Ski Cross Qualifying – Times & Schedule

Sandra Näslund, favored to win gold in ski cross, finished second in Friday’s qualifying round at the Winter Games. German skier Daniela Maier posted a faster time, besting Näslund by just 21 hundredths of a second.

Despite the near-perfect conditions, Swedish national team head coach Eric Iljans told TV4 that Näslund’s run was “far from perfect.” He acknowledged her performance was strong but indicated there was room for improvement before the elimination rounds. “She did a good run, but there’s a little to polish,” Iljans said.

Fellow Swede Linnea Mobärg qualified in ninth place. All 32 skiers advanced to the round of 32, with qualifying times determining the seeding for the bracket.

The round of 32 is scheduled to start at 12:00 local time, followed by quarterfinal and semifinal heats. The final race is set for 13:10 and will be broadcast live on TV4.

Näslund’s return to competition comes after a two-year battle with injuries, including a knee injury and a fractured shinbone. She secured a World Cup victory in December 2025, marking her first final win since the winter of 2024. Iljans expressed his excitement at seeing Näslund’s immediate success following her recovery, stating, “It’s incredible to see that everything works directly in a competitive situation and how Sandra delivers after such a long injury break.”

Prior to the Games, the Swedish ski cross team constructed a replica of the Olympic course in Björnrike, Vemdalen, Sweden, to prepare for the unique challenges of the track. Näslund highlighted the advantage of practicing the start, which she described as longer and more technical than typical World Cup courses. Iljans noted the team specifically practiced a challenging section of the course – three rollers in a row requiring precise dampening and doubling techniques – as it was an uncommon feature.

The Swedish freestyle skiers experienced mixed results earlier in the Games, with Jesper Tjäder finishing fifth in slopestyle and Walter Wallberg placing fourth in moguls and fifth in parallel moguls. Henrik Harlaut was sidelined due to concussion and a knee injury.