Gold medalist Frida Karlsson (C) of Sweden, silver medalist Ebba Andersson (L) of Sweden and Jessie Diggins of the United States pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
TESERO, Italy, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Frida Karlsson claimed her second gold at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in the women's cross-country 10km freestyle skiing on Thursday, while her teammate Ebba Andersson placed second.
Karlsson clocked 22 minutes and 49.2 seconds, finishing 46.6 seconds ahead of Andersson. American Jessie Diggins took bronze in 23:38.9.
It marked Karlsson's second title at the Games following her victory in the women's 10km+10km skiathlon. "I totally surprised myself - it was crazy out there," Karlsson said after the race.
"I was getting so much energy from the spectators. We had a lot of Swedes here cheering, and our coaches were giving me splits and so much encouragement, carrying me all the way to this gold," she added.
Among the four Chinese skiers, Chi Chunxue placed 66th, while He Kaili, Wang Yundi and Dinigeer Yilamujiang finished 72nd, 74th and 78th, respectively.
The men's 10km freestyle event will take place on Friday. ■
Gold medalist Frida Karlsson (C) of Sweden, silver medalist Ebba Andersson (L) of Sweden and Jessie Diggins of the United States take a selfie during the awarding ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Frida Karlsson of Sweden shows her medal after the awarding ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Alison Mackie of Canada waits for the confirmation of her result after the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 10km Interval Start Free at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Frida Karlsson of Sweden reacts after the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 10km Interval Start Free at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Jessie Diggins of the United States crosses the finish line during the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 10km Interval Start Free at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Ebba Andersson of Sweden poses for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Liliane Gagnon of Canada competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Magdalena Scherz (C) of Austria competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Theresa Fuerstenberg of Germany competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
He Kaile of China competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
He Kaile of China reacts after the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Wang Yundi of China reacts after the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Chi Chunxue (L) of China competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Jessie Diggins of the United States competes during the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Samaneh Beyrami Baher (2nd R) of Iran interacts with Jessie Diggins (1st L) of the United States after the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Frida Karlsson (1st L) of Sweden interacts with spectators after the awarding ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 10km interval start free match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
