In the recent qualifiers for the women's skicross event at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, Swedish athlete Linnea Mobärg faced a bitter end to her journey in the eighth-finals despite having a strong qualification round. Mobärg, who achieved the ninth-fastest time in the qualifiers, found herself in contention for a podium finish but encountered an unfortunate incident during the race. She described the experience as ‘disappointing’ but felt she had performed well under the circumstances.

During the eighth-final heat, Mobärg struggled with a slow start but managed to catch up to her competitors, competing closely for the second position. However, a collision with French skicross racer Marielle Berger Sabbatel disrupted her momentum. Mobärg recounted that Sabbatel took a tight line into the turn, forcing her to step over Sabbatel's skis, which resulted in a significant loss of speed and ultimately led to her elimination from the competition.

There was speculation regarding whether Sabbatel's actions constituted a violation of racing rules, although no official review took place after the race. Mobärg was left waiting for a potential inquiry into the incident, but upon reviewing the footage herself, she accepted that Sabbatel was ahead and that the race outcome was final. The incident highlights the intense nature of skicross racing and raises questions about racer safety and the governing body’s oversight in addressing potential infractions during competitive events.