Johannes Klæbo, a prominent Norwegian cross-country skier, found himself taken aback during the sprint competition in Lahti when announcer Antero Mertaranta introduced the skiers without mentioning his name. Klæbo noted that the usual practice involves the announcer calling out the names of the skiers before they acknowledge the audience. Instead, Mertaranta turned to the crowd and asked, 'who is this?', leaving Klæbo unsure of how to react. His astonishment was evident as he expressed his confusion about the omission of his name.

Despite his surprise, Klæbo later stated that he perceived Mertaranta's actions positively, which may have been intended as good humor. Following this moment, Klæbo went on to win the race at the Salpausselkä sprint, with his teammate Lars Heggen finishing second and France's Jules Chappaz securing third place. Klæbo acknowledged that while he felt the audience and Mertaranta were on his side, he recognized there might be a mixed feeling among Finnish fans towards him, describing it as a love-hate relationship that seems to exist.

This incident highlights the sometimes complex relationship between international athletes and local fans, especially in countries where competitive sports are a significant source of national pride. Klæbo's ability to maintain a sense of humor about the situation while still performing well in the race reflects the tightrope athletes often walk between their public persona and the reactions of fans in different cultures.