A cross-country skiing couple can smile again.

The Christmas miracle of the cross-country skiing couple

A cross-country skiing couple sticks together through thick and thin – and were now able to enjoy a slightly different Christmas miracle.

02 January 2026

From: det

Swede Maja Dahlqvist (48 World Cup podium finishes) and American Kevin Bolger (147 World Cup starts) are a dream team in the cross-country skiing world. They stick together through thick and thin, celebrate successes together, and support each other when the unforgiving world of professional sports deals a cruel blow.

Just like at the beginning of this season. It was announced that Bolger would no longer be selected for the US national team. The 32-year-old was thus forced to pay for his entire season himself. This caused outrage for his girlfriend, Maja. "It's insane. Kevin was the best American in several races last season, and yet he's not being called up to the national team. It's so strange," Dahlqvist sympathized with her boyfriend.

Kevin Bolger and girlfriend Maja Dahlqvist.

A season in the World Cup alone costs tens of thousands of euros. But now there's a true Christmas miracle. "Something really cool happened on Christmas Eve. I got an email from our cross-country skiing manager saying that a donor had been found who would cover all the costs," Bolger happily told us in an interview. expressen.

A donor as savior

“He’s a man from Colorado. He originally just wanted to support a few athletes aiming for the Olympics. But our bosses managed to get him to pay for all those who would have had to cover their own expenses,” explains an overjoyed Bolger.

"Now he can start paying rent again." Maja Dahlqvist

His girlfriend Maja Dahlqvist was sitting next to the American when the joyful news arrived – and she too was greatly relieved. "He started cheering, and at first I thought: 'What's happened now?' It was really great," said the world-class cross-country skier, who added with a mischievous smile: "I immediately told him that he could now start paying the rent again."

The cross-country skiing couple are currently competing together. Both Dahlqvist and Bolger are participating in the Tour de Ski, which recently stopped in Toblach. Dahlqvist even celebrated a major success, finishing third in the opening sprint. In short, the two can now fully concentrate on their sport again.