Thai cross-country skiers lead charge for winter sports representation at FISU Games

On Wednesday, 15 January, Pragelato Plan showcased an extraordinary display of endurance and skill during the men’s and women’s individual 10 km freestyle cross-country skiing events of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games.

While much of the spotlight naturally fell on athletes from winter sports powerhouses like Norway, Finland and Italy, an inspiring story unfolded further down the standings.

Jittipat Chitmunchaitham, 20, and Naravich Saisuk, 18, are trailblazers in a country where winter sports are far from the norm. Both student-athletes are enrolled at the Sport University of Thailand and began their journey into cross-country skiing through roller skiing, a discipline that has grown in popularity in their home nation in recent years.

“Roller skiing really jump-started both of our careers and our enthusiasm for the sport,” Chitmunchaitham explained. Though they lack the luxury of training on snow year-round, both teammates have made remarkable progress. “When the season comes around in countries nearby, like Japan, South Korea, or even Italy, we travel there to train,” he added.

Overcoming challenges on snow

Saisuk has been competing in cross-country skiing for just two and a half years. “The transition from roller skiing felt natural at first, but when I got onto the snow, it was very difficult,” he admitted. “The technique is so different.” Chitmunchaitham, with five years of experience, echoed this sentiment but emphasised that their shared passion for the sport pushes them forward.

Both Jittipat Chitmunchaitham and Naravich Saisuk credit their growth to the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea. Saisuk shared that his experience there was a significant confidence booster. “In the individual event, I finished in the middle of the pack, and in the mixed relay, I made the top 30.” A promising result for the student-athlete with limited on-snow training.

Thailand’s team at the FISU Games has grown substantially over the years, now consisting of over 20 members. Phuwadol Samphaongeon, the head of the delegation and a former alpine skier, has been instrumental in this expansion. “When I competed here [at the FISU Games] in Torino in 2007, there was no federation, and everything was volunteer-based,” he recalled. “Seeing these student-athletes compete at this level with growing support is incredibly rewarding. I see myself in them.”

Samphaongeon noted that roller skiing has not only fueled interest in cross-country skiing but also other winter sports such as biathlon, bobsled, and luge. “It’s much more fun seeing everyone come together. I’d go to competitions with just my coach, who was more of a friend than anything official.”

Results and looking ahead

While the Thai athletes did not achieve podium finishes in Wednesday’s 10 km races, their journey is just beginning. Chitmunchaitham and Saisuk’s participation advances both their personal career and a bright future for winter sports in Thailand.

The men’s race saw Olaf Martin Talmo of Norway take the gold in 24:21.0, followed by Nico Bennert of Finland (24:27.8) and Mario Matikanov of Bulgaria (24:38.2). On the women’s side, Izabela Marcisz of Poland claimed victory in 28:08.7, with Maria Boccardi of Italy (28:11.6) and Carla Wohler of Switzerland (28:23.2) rounding out the podium.

The next cross-country skiing medal events, the men’s and women’s sprint classic, is set for Friday, 17 January.

The take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Mackenzie Barwell, FISU Young Reporter, Canada

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

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