Junior Worlds was a dream come true. I’m so grateful for all of the experiences I had. Not every moment was easy, and not every race went exactly how I wanted, but I’ve come home with new goals and a clearer idea of what I want to improve.

One of the biggest highlights of the trip was getting to reconnect with athletes I’ve met on previous trips and meet new friends from all over the world. It’s so special to be part of a sport that brings together people from so many different cultures, and I love learning from them.

On the racing side, my sprint was one of the best ski races I’ve ever had. I was able to push at my limit the entire time without slowing down, which was a huge improvement from earlier in the week when I was still recovering from a cold. It was definitely one of the strongest ski performances I’ve had this season.

At times, it was easy to lose perspective. My results weren’t exactly what I had hoped for, and I found myself comparing my performance to the race winners. But I had to remind myself that I was competing a level up an age category, against some of the best junior athletes in the world, many of whom were three years older than me. Keeping that in mind helped me appreciate how much I’ve grown as an athlete. I also realize that my performances weren’t at the level that I expect for myself, but you can’t learn from a perfect race.

One of the most unpredictable factors throughout the week was the weather. Östersund’s conditions changed drastically each day, sometimes even hour by hour. The junior women’s races were lucky to have the best conditions, with firm and fast tracks in the mornings. But by the afternoon, the snow would turn to slush for the men’s races. One day, the morning was warm with great trails, but by the evening, the course was getting hammered by wind, rain, and sleet. Then, as soon as the youth women’s race finished, the sun came back out, only for the storm to start up again just in time for the men’s race. I felt like the luckiest athlete to have had so many great race conditions.

I made a final trip to the candy store to get some treats to share with everyone back home! Thankfully, my friend Ida from Team Sweden came with me as my personal translator!

On the final day of racing, all four of our junior women came together for the 6K relay. Our goal was to do our best, but also to have fun. For Alex, our first leg, it was her last-ever Junior Worlds race, so we made sure to make it special. We suited up in red, white, and blue, put on hair ribbons and glitter, and just enjoyed the day. It was the perfect way to close out the trip.

After our race, Mirra and I went on one last cooldown and exploration ski. Along the way, we stumbled upon Östersund’s snow farm—the place where they produce and store snow for when the course gets too warm and starts to melt. Huge mounds of packed snow towered over us, so steep that climbing them felt impossible at first. But after a few attempts, we finally made it to the top. The best part of the day? The ride back down!

For the past two weeks, we had been taking an IBU bus to and from our hotel and the venue. Normally, buses ran every thirty minutes, but on the final day of racing, only three were scheduled for the entire day. Our cooldown ski was totally worth missing the last one—but it also meant we were stuck walking the 2.5K back to the hotel, carrying our rifles, all of our skis (since we had to pack everything up at home), and our gear bags. It was a long haul, but honestly, the adventure made it worth it.

I can’t thank everyone enough for making this season and these travels possible. It is rewarding to see measured growth each season. I know there is an opportunity for me to reach high levels of success if I continue to stay focused and work to complete and check off measurable goals that I have set for myself. Next year is not so distant and I am excited and ready for the challenges and experiences that are just around the corner. I know that with more training, I’ll come back even stronger next year!