Mattis Stenshagen's Olympic future has come into question after he finished in 21st place in the skiathlon event, nearly two minutes behind gold medalist Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The race was eventful, with silver medalist Desloges making a critical error and multiple competitors, including Edvin Anger and Harald Østberg Amundsen, falling. Despite avoiding mishaps, Stenshagen struggled to keep pace with the leading group, expressing disappointment in his performance and comparing it to past challenges faced by other competitors. His underwhelming finish has led experts to declare it a missed opportunity.

Analyzing Stenshagen’s performance, analysts suggest that his inability to keep up with the frontrunners could indicate that he might not qualify for future Olympic events. He himself expressed a sense of embarrassment over not being able to match the speed of the leaders, and was cheekily compared to former Swedish skier Jørgen Brink, who also had a disappointing outing in a past championship. The experts' harsh critique stems not only from his placing but also from the expectations surrounding Norwegian skiing, a sport with a rich legacy and high standards.