Westvold Hansen doubles up in Oslo with Compact win to end women’s season
Mar 16, 2025·Nordic Combined
Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) made it a double celebration to finish the women’s Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season as she backed up Saturday’s Gundersen win with victory in Sunday’s Compact in Oslo.
The 22-year-old’s resurgence in form saw her beat compatriot Ida Marie Hagen in a tense final cross-country race to claim her 22nd individual World Cup win overall.
Hagen, who had started 30 seconds behind Westvold Hansen, closed to within four seconds entering the final kilometer before a fall ended her chances of overhauling the two-time overall champion.
Westvold Hansen took victory in 13:44.2, with Hagen 15.6 seconds back and Haruka Kasai (JPN) pipping Nathalie Armbruster (GER) – who had already won the Crystal Globe for overall champion on Saturday – for the final podium spot.
Westvold Hansen won two golds and a silver medal at the Worlds in Trondheim after a difficult first half of the season, in which Hagen won the first seven competitions but only one of the final seven.
“It was nice to end the season like that here in Holmenkollen," added Westvold Hansen, who finished fifth in the overall standings, with Hagen second and twins Haruka and Yuna Kasai third and fourth respectively.
"It was perfect. Now I am really looking forward to a little break, just relaxing and doing nothing."
Armbruster (above), who had clinched her first overall title on Saturday with a sixth-placed finish in the Gundersen and also collected the mini Crystal Globe for topping the Compact standings, admitted she was struggling to take in her achievement.
“It was so cool yesterday, I lost so much pressure off my shoulders,” said the 19-year-old, who moved up from 11th place on the hill to finish fourth in the final event.
“The pressure sometimes this season was almost inhuman, so today I could just relax and enjoy it. I was sitting on the hill smiling earlier, even if it wasn’t my best jump.
“It is crazy. I can’t realise it yet, I am feeling so overwhelmed. I would never have believed I could become overall champion this season, with my graduation (studies) too."
Earlier it was 17-year-old Ingrid Laate, the world junior Nordic Combined champion who also took silver in the ski jumping, who impressed again on the HS134 large hill.
Laate (below) made light of the swirling wind conditions, soaring out to 124.0m from gate 27 – after a jump of 128.5m on Saturday – to set a target of 104.9 points that no-one else could get near.
“My season has been a unique experience,” said the teenager, who decided not to start the cross-country race later. “It started OK and then just got better and better. I am really happy with my season.”
Annalena Slamik’s (AUT) 119.5m earned 91.4 points before compatriot Hirner matched Laate’s 124.0m from three gates higher to score 95.9 points and put herself firmly in contention for another podium finish, although a late fall in the tracks saw her slip to fifth.
Westvold Hansen again opted to move down several gates to 24 and her 119.0m jump for 98.7 points meant she would have started only six seconds behind Laate with the fixed-time differences in the Compact format, but instead led from start to finish.
Hagen's final push falls short
Hagen threatened to make it a barnstorming last day after making light of her 30-second deficit after a 111.0m jump (76.6 points) on the hill, before a late fall meant to she had to settle for second, her 11th podium of a season in which she won the Best Skier trophy.
“It was a fantastic season with the girls and I am so happy we made this progress and we are now on the big hill,” she said. “Also Jarl [Magnus Riiber] having his last competition was emotional for me, so I am happy to be here on his day.”
Haruka Kasai also produced an improved jump of 119.0m (95.0 points) to start 17 seconds back, finishing a fine season with her eighth podium and also collecting the Mass Start trophy.
“I am very happy to have made it to the podium here in Oslo, the home of Nordic skiing,” she said. “I have had a very enjoyable season this year, and I will return next season with an improved performance.”
The retiring Svenja Wuerth (GER), 31, also managed a 112.0m jump (75.5) to place 10th on the large hill before eventually finishing 25th in her final World Cup appearance. She was part of a German team that also won the Nations Cup ahead of Norway and Japan.
“I am still overwhelmed that the girls were waiting for me at the finish line,” she said. “It was such a special World Cup weekend for me and pretty cool that we also got the Nations Cup because it is something we can all win together. That means a lot.”
Click here for full results from Sunday's Compact.
