“Friday the 13th Our lucky day, Welcome to our lovely princess”, wrote Iivo Niskanen and his wife Saana on their  Instagram account.

The 32-year-old, who has three golds from the Olympics and a World Cup title, has received another gold: this weekend he became a father of two. 

It was just before the summer holidays that the Finnish cross-country skiing star and his wife announced the news that they were expecting their second child. At that time, Iivo Niskanen also revealed that the baby was due well before the snow arrived. And so it happened.

Niskanen and his wife Saana became parents for the first time in December 2022. Back then, the Finnish skiing star shared that becoming parents had changed his life.

“It’s a fantastic experience. A truly important milestone in life. I have always dreamed of it. No one is born a father; it’s a role we have to grow into”, said Niskanen to the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti.

Now the baby has arrived, and the small family of three has become four.

Niskanen now joins his Swedish colleague Calle Halfvarsson, who became a father for the second time in April at the age of 35.

Read More: How Can Johaug Train During And After Pregnancy? Bjørgen’s Training and Jönsson Haag’s Advice

Going solo in preparation for the World Championships in Trondheim

Last year, Iivo Niskanen chose to stay outside the national team. This year, he has followed in the footsteps of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and returned to the national team.

However, the Finn has secured a national team contract similar to the one Kristine Stavås Skistad has with the Norwegian team: Niskanen is running his own program until the start of the season and will only join the national team during competitions and championships.

“The agreement is that he will manage his own preparation and join the squad from the World Cup opener in Ruka, said Niskanen’s manager Miro Rousko when the national team announced the selection for 2024/25.

Niskanen is one of several Finnish cross-country skiing stars who do not trust the national team’s sports program during the lead-up to the upcoming World Championship season.

Also Read: Finnish national teams for season 2024/2025

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