Yuna Kasai pips Westvold Hansen to gold in dramatic Mass Start in Trondheim

Yuna Kasai (JPN) produced a stunning upset on the opening day of Nordic Combined competition at the 2025 FIS World Nordic Ski Championships in Trondheim as she won gold in the Mass Start with twin sister Haruka joining her on the podium with bronze.

Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) looked on course for a third successive individual World title when she earlier won a dramatic cross-country race at the Granåsen Ski Centre.

But first Haruka Kasai (JPN), only eighth in the tracks, took the lead with a superb 96.0-meter jump to reach 115.6 points before sister Yuna moved into gold-medal position with an even better 96.5m effort for 121.0 points.

With favourite Ida Marie Hagen (NOR) falling well short on the hill after struggling to fifth in the tracks and Marte Leinan Lund (NOR) also slipping out of the medals to eighth after a strong second place in the cross-country, the hosts’ hopes rested with Westvold Hansen.

Last to go and looking nervous at the top of the HS102 hill in front of an expectant crowd, the 22-year-old fell agonizingly short as her 94.5m jump was only good enough for silver and 118.7 points.

It was the first time Norway had not won individual gold in a women’s individual event at the World Championships, leaving Yuna Kasai – who only won her maiden World Cup competition in Otepää (EST) earlier this month – in a state of disbelief.

Kasai, 21, is only the second Japanese to win individual World gold after Kenji Ogiwara, who won the men’s 15km Gundersen in 1993 and 1997, the latter also in Trondheim.

An emotional Westvold Hansen, having missed the last round of World Cup events in Otepää to focus on preparing for Trondheim, declared herself “very satisfied” with silver after a difficult season in which she has struggled on the hill.

“I have not been jumping at this level before this season, I have struggled a lot, so I am actually very happy,” she said. “I think this is a better performance than the two golds I had before (in Oberstdorf (GER) in 2021 and Planica (SLO) in 2023, both Gundersens). To do this here in Trondheim means a lot.”

For Haruka Kasai, it was a second individual World bronze after also finishing third in the Gundersen in Planica.

“I'm relieved that we were able to reach the podium and also very happy that my sister and I were able to do well together,” she said. “We'll be aiming for the top tomorrow with the Mixed Team competition and Gundersen on Sunday.”

The competitors were earlier greeted by a wall of noise from the 22,000 spectators for the start of the cross-country as the first of six Nordic Combined events at the championships got under way.

As expected, it was Hagen who took it out at the front from the start, but unlike for much of a season where she has dominated in the tracks, the 24-year-old was unable to shake off her rivals.

Overall World Cup leader Nathalie Armbruster (GER), buoyed by her recent victory over Hagen in Otepää, stuck doggedly to the Norwegian (below) on the first 2.5km loop, with Leinan Lund also in close proximity and Westvold Hansen biding her time just behind.

Yuna Kasai moved up to make it a five-strong leading group at the halfway stage, all within two seconds of each other.

But as Hagen’s energy levels seemed to dip, Westvold Hansen made her move at around 3km in and powered to the front on the steep uphill section.

As Hagen tried to regain ground, she took an unfortunate tumble forwards and dropped back to fifth. “Nathalie stepped on my skis and it was a bit annoying to lose those seconds, but I just had to get up as fast as possible,” a rueful Hagen said afterwards.

Westvold Hansen continued to apply the pressure at the front and opened up enough of a gap to be able to raise her arms in celebration as she approached the finish line to take the acclaim of the crowd.

Her winning time of 13:36.3 was two seconds clear of compatriot Leinan Lund – an advantage of just 0.5 points to take to the hill, with Yuna Kasai in third, 3.6 seconds (-0.9 points) back, Armbruster in fourth, 4.2 seconds (-1.1 points) behind and Hagen trailing in fifth, seven seconds – a 1.8-point deficit – behind Westvold Hansen.    

The jumping section was no less dramatic as another Norwegian, 17-year-old Ingrid Laate – the recently crowned junior world champion – dropped down three start gates to No.27 and soared out to 100.5 meters, the joint-longest distance of the day along with Annalena Slamik (AUT), to set the early target.

First Lisa Hirner (AUT), whose 94.0m jump took her to 105.7 points, and then Jenny Nowak (GER), whose 95.0m effort brought 111.2 points, took the lead before a powerful 96.0m jump from Haruka Kasai saw the Japanese hit the front on 115.6.

Alexa Brabec (USA)’s 93.0m effort ultimately left her in a superb fourth place on 111.4, with Hagen, yet to win a World individual medal, only managing 83.0m for 93.8 points and 10^th place.

It was also a disappointing day for Armbruster, who has won three of the last five World Cup events but had to settle for sixth after an 89.0m jump.

“I didn’t show my best ability,” the 19-year-old lamented. “My race was pretty good, but I am not happy about my jump – I know I can do better on the hill.”

Both Hagen and Armbruster will have strong medal chances on Friday as part of the Norwegian and German teams which took gold and silver in the Mixed competition in Planica.

Click here for full results from Thursday’s Mass Start.