The Norwegian ski association announced that Olympic medalist Emil Iversen will not participate in the World Cup event in Falun due to illness. He was expected to compete in both the sprint and the 20-kilometer mass start events. Iversen previously won a gold medal in the men's relay and a bronze medal in the 50-kilometer race at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, marking him as a significant figure in the skiing community.

Taking Iversen's place will be Filip Skari, who is the son of legendary skier Bente Skari. This change highlights the depth of talent within the Norwegian ski team, as they are able to draw on the next generation of athletes. Additionally, it has been reported that other athletes, including Swedish skiers Ebba Andersson and Edvin Anger, will also miss the Falun competition due to illness, indicating that this has been a challenging week for many competitors.

Following the Falun World Cup, the next competition is scheduled for March 7-8 in Lahti, at the Salpausselkä Games. The absence of these key athletes could affect the competitive landscape of the upcoming events, as fans and teams alike watch to see how the replacements perform and what this means for their outlook in the rest of the ski season.