Johanna Holzmann’s triumphant farewell and Trym Nygaard Løken’s historic sweep highlight Telemark Worlds

The FIS Telemark World Championships took place in Les Contamines-Montjoie, France, from March 19–23, immediately following two consecutive World Cup rounds. The last time the World Championships were held in France was in La Plagne in 2017. This return to French soil ignited excitement among the home team and fans, particularly in Les Contamines, the hometown of coach Antoine Bouvier.

Antoine Bouvier shared his anticipation: "We had been looking forward to these World Championships at home for weeks. Every French athlete wanted to shine on home soil. At the opening ceremony, I thought to myself, ‘This is it, we’re here!’ That’s also what I told the athletes on the eve of the first race: ‘Embrace the energy and enthusiasm around you to push yourselves beyond your limits.’ The track was impeccably prepared, and we were treated to fair races under beautiful sunshine."

The World Championships are a high-stakes event—one race, one chance, no strategy beyond giving it everything until the finish line. Every competitor arrives with the singular goal of becoming world champion. While the traditional powerhouse nations fielded strong teams, the Championships also welcomed athletes from the United States, Japan, and Spain, proving that Telemark continues to inspire a global following.

One of the most remarkable stories came from Germany’s Johanna Holzmann, who made a triumphant return to Telemark to conclude her competitive career on a high note. After three seasons in the Ski Cross World Cup, including a 15th-place finish at the 2022 Olympics, and an illustrious 12-season Telemark career with 83 World Cup podiums and 13 victories, Holzmann bid farewell to racing in the most spectacular way: by claiming three World Championship titles in Sprint, Parallel Sprint, and Classic.

Reflecting on her journey, Holzmann said: "I will forever be grateful for everything I experienced and learned in my Telemark career. Now, I look forward to coaching ski instructors in both Alpine and Telemark and passing on the passion that skiing has given me. Although I retired from professional racing last April, I had always thought about returning one last time to the Telemark circuit. Racing in Les Contamines, where I won the Junior World Championships in 2016 and where I first competed in 2011, brought back so many memories."

Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Martina Wyss had also set her sights on gold after stepping away from Telemark to compete in the European Ski Cross Cup. Unfortunately, a knee injury just one week before the Championships ended her hopes. We wish her a full and speedy recovery.

In the men’s competition, Norway’s Trym Nygaard Løken dominated, completing a historic clean sweep with four gold medals in the Sprint, Team Event, Parallel Sprint, and Classic. As he leads the overall World Cup standings, he is poised to claim all three season globes at the upcoming finals in Switzerland.

The French team, despite being hit by an unfortunate bout of gastroenteritis early in the Championships, showed resilience and determination, finishing as the most decorated nation with eight medals. Their tally included two silver medals for women (Carliez in Sprint and Tan Bouquet in Classic), two silver medals for men (Claye in Sprint and Rostolan in Parallel Sprint), three bronze medals for men (Rostolan in Sprint, Claye in Parallel Sprint, and Page in Classic), and a bronze in the Team Event. Augustine Carliez and Yoann Rostolan celebrated their first-ever World Championship medals.

Augustine Carliez shared her emotional experience: "These World Championships will always be engraved in my memory! Competing on home soil at Les Contamines added an extra layer of excitement. I came in with no pressure but plenty of ambition. When I crossed the finish line, I was initially ranked sixth, and I broke down in tears. It wasn’t the result I had hoped for. Then, I was told to wait—penalty reviews were still ongoing. Those 45 minutes felt like a lifetime. When my coach, Antoine Bouvier, embraced me and told me I was the vice world champion, I couldn’t believe it! Celebrating with my family and friends, biting into the silver medal—it was surreal."

Sweden’s Olle Collberg also had a defining moment in his career, securing his first-ever individual silver medal in the Classic race. The joy and emotion on his face said it all—this medal, for him, was worth gold. Often finishing just outside the podium, his perseverance paid off, making his silver one of the most heartwarming highlights of the Championships.

Collberg reflected: "This silver medal means everything to me! When I started my World Cup career, I watched Lisa Englund and Mattias Wagenius win World Championship medals. I shared a bronze with them in the Team Parallel in 2013, and ever since, my biggest goal was to win an individual medal. I couldn’t be happier!"

Norway closed the event with six medals: three individual golds for Løken, a silver for Konow (women’s Parallel Sprint), a bronze for Eriksen (women’s Parallel Sprint), and a gold in the Team Event (Konow, Alveberg, Løken). Great Britain and Switzerland also made their mark on the medal table, with two bronze medals for Jasmin Taylor (women’s Sprint and Classic) and a silver Team medal for Switzerland’s Léa Lathion, Maxime Mosset, and Nicolas Michel.

For Antoine Bouvier, hosting the World Championships in Les Contamines was a dream come true: "Personally, I’ve been living in a dream all week. Hosting these Championships at home as a coach was incredible! We shared our passion for Telemark skiing with friends, family, partners, and even local schoolchildren. One of the most special moments was the Masters race, where former World Cup athletes reunited, some after 10 to 20 years. We were all still connected by our love for Telemark. Racing the Classic on my home track at Montjoie was unforgettable—I even won, ahead of Eirik Rykhus, a legend of our sport who had always inspired me."

The World Masters event, held alongside the Championships, featured 22 retired Telemark World Cup racers. Antoine Bouvier and Switzerland’s Sandrine Meyer emerged as World Masters Champions.

Florian Bouvier, from the Les Contamines-Montjoie organizing committee, summed up the event’s significance: "After months of preparation, it was incredibly fulfilling to witness all these emotions unfold—on the track and in the heart of the village. This week was a true celebration of sport, driven by passion, perseverance, and camaraderie. Telemark is a close-knit family, and we were honored to welcome athletes, staff, supporters, and volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone who made these unforgettable moments possible!"

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the organizers and volunteers whose dedication contributed to the success of these incredible World Championships.