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Sophia Laukli doesn’t want to choose
The American passport champion, also Norwegian thanks to her father, has already distinguished herself several times on the cross-country skiing World Cup circuit.
We remember, for example, her victory acquired last year at the summit of Alpe Cermis, during the last stage of the Tour de Ski. Small in size, full of energy, she has lived in Norway for two years and trains with Team Aker Daehlie.
Not one to stay on the couch, Sophia Laukli, as soon as the winter season is over, takes out her running shoes to indulge in her second passion, Trail running.
She quickly made a name for herself in the discipline, to the point of winning the Mont Blanc Marathon and the general classification of the Golden Trail World Series in 2023, ahead of all the stars.
This Sunday, she was once again in the running to play for the podium on this 42km of Mont Blanc, before giving up her 3rd place, narrowly, in the last descent to the Chinese Yao.
Barely back in Oslo, she took the start today of a 3000m which she completed in 9’22, connoisseurs will appreciate. Sophia Laukli, without training specifically for the trail has a great future in the discipline, but today her priority remains cross-country skiing.
“I’ve been a skier all my life, it took me a while to get to the top level. My arrival in trail running was not intentional. I’ve always run in the mountains for skiing.
And when I lived in Alaska I participated in small trails, just like that, I was strong. And opportunities arrived.” explained Laukli during an interview with AFP.
I thought a lot about the balance between these two sports, because today I am better at trail running. Skiing has more density, it is an Olympic sport, with only one international federation, one circuit.
Skiing requires a longer process to reach the top of the pyramid. I want to put myself in a position to reach it. And having this Olympic dream is unique. We don’t have that in trail.
I might focus more on trail running after the 2026 Milan/Cortina Games. In the meantime, I’ve decided to go back and forth between the two sports, it’s more fun that way.”
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