Four women were battling for medals in the first-ever 50km race at a championship under historically harsh conditions. With just one kilometer to go, disaster struck for Ebba Andersson. The 27-year-old tangled with her national team colleague Frida Karlsson, crashed, and lost her chance to claim a fourth gold medal, ending up in the agonizing fourth place.

Karlsson took the gold, Heidi Weng secured the silver, and Therese Johaug claimed the bronze.

Andersson does not hide her disappointment.

“These things can happen in the heat of the battle, but it’s tough that I was the one who ended up in the snow while Frida crossed the finish line as world champion instead,” Andersson told Langrenn.com.

“I was planning to move to the right side because, with today’s conditions, we saw that it was really beneficial to ski along the edges. Unfortunately, Frida had the same idea, and as a result, I went down,” she explained.

Do you blame Frida for what happened?

“I’m furious about the situation and how it turned out. I can’t blame either her or myself. But it’s frustrating that it ended the way it did.”

Was it your own fault?

“I honestly can’t say. But I am the one who lost the most in this.”

Have you spoken to Frida Karlsson about it?

“Yes.”

Ruined Everything

It quickly became clear that the historic 50km race at the World Championships in Trondheim would be a Norway-Sweden battle between the favorites Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng versus Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson.

Andersson leaves the championships with three gold medals—two of them individual distance titles—and a fourth-place finish.

Can you be happy that Frida won a World Championship gold?

“Hmm. I have been clear with Frida that I am happy for her success, given that I didn’t get the chance to fight for it. But I have also been clear that I am disappointed with how it turned out for me.”

What’s the hardest part of this?

“The most painful thing is that I felt so strong. I prepared well and executed my race as planned, and then, in a split second, everything changed, and I didn’t even get the chance to fight for a medal to the finish.”

You’ve had an incredible World Championships, winning three gold medals and finishing fourth in the 50km. Are you happy with your championships?

“I honestly can’t answer that right now.”

Read More: Frida Karlsson wins 50km mass start at the Trondheim World Championships