# Erik Valnes

Erik Valnes (born 19 April 1996) is a Norwegian cross-country skier.
At the 2018 Junior World Championships (U23) he won the gold medal in the sprint, and also competed in the 15 km event.
He made his World Cup debut in December 2017 in Lillehammer, also breaking the top 30-barrier with a 27th place in the sprint there.
He represents the sports club Bardufoss og Omegn IF.

## Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

### Olympic Games

* 1 medal (1 gold)
| Year | Age | 15 km  individual | 30 km  skiathlon | 50 km  mass start | Sprint | 4 × 10 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 2022 | 25 | 15 | — | — | 11 | — | Gold |
$^a$ Distance reduced to 30 km due to weather conditions.

### World Championships

* 5 medals – (3 gold, 2 silver)
| Year | Age | Individual | Skiathlon | Mass start | Sprint | Relay | Team  sprint |
| 2021 | 24 | — | — | — | Silver | — | Gold |
| 2023 | 26 | — | — | — | 11 | — | — |
| 2025 | 28 | Silver | — | — | — | Gold | Gold |

### World Cup
#### Season standings

| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings |
| Season | Age | Overall | Distance | Sprint | U23 | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | Ski Tour 2020 | World Cup Final |
| 2018 | 21 | 120 | — | 66 | 17 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 22 | 40 | — | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 23 | 12 | 33 | | — | 12 | DNF | 23 | — |
| 2021 | 24 | 38 | 46 | 17 | — | 24 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 25 | 5 | 21 | 7 | — | — | 8 | — | — |
| 2023 | 26 | 10 | 36 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 27 | | 9 | | — | — | 6 | — | — |
| 2025 | 28 | 3 | 18 | 2 | — | — | 7 | — | — |

#### Individual podiums

* 6 victories – (4 WC, 2 SWC)
* 28 podiums – (21 WC, 7 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
| 1 | 2018–19 | 12 January 2019 | Dresden, Germany | 1.6 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 2 | 2019–20 | 21 December 2019 | Planica, Slovenia | 1.2 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 3 | 2019–20 | 26 January 2020 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 1.6 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 4 | 2019–20 | 8 February 2020 | Falun, Sweden | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 5 | 2019–20 | 22 February 2020 | Trondheim, Norway | 1.5 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 6 | 2020–21 | 27 November 2020 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 1.4 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 7 | 2021–22 | 26 November 2021 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 8 | 2021–22 | 1 January 2022 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 1.5 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 9 | 2022–23 | 14 March 2023 | Drammen, Norway | 1.2 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 10 | 2022–23 | 18 March 2023 | Falun, Sweden | 1.4 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 11 | 2022–23 | 25 March 2023 | Lahti, Sweden | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 12 | 2023–24 | 24 November 2023 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 1st |
| 13 | 2023–24 | 25 November 2023 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 14 | 2023–24 | 9 December 2023 | Östersund, Sweden | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 15 | 2023–24 | 31 December 2023 | Toblach, Italy | 10 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 16 | 2023–24 | 1 January 2024 | Toblach, Italy | 20 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 17 | 2023–24 | 6 January 2024 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 15 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 18 | 2023–24 | 19 January 2024 | Oberhof, Germany | 1.3 km Sprint C | World Cup | 1st |
| 19 | 2023–24 | 20 January 2024 | Oberhof, Germany | 20 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 1st |
| 20 | 2023–24 | 10 February 2024 | Canmore, Canada | 1.3 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 21 | 2023–24 | 13 February 2024 | Canmore, Canada | 1.3 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 22 | 2024–25 | 30 November 2024 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 23 | 2024–25 | 14 December 2024 | Davos, Switzerland | 1.5 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 24 | 2024–25 | 29 December 2024 | Toblach, Italy | 15 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 25 | 2024–25 | 18 January 2025 | Les Rousses, France | 1.3 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 26 | 2024–25 | 1 February 2025 | Cogne, Italy | 1.3 km Sprint C | World Cup | 1st |
| 27 | 2024–25 | 14 February 2025 | Falun, Sweden | 1.4 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 28 | 2024–25 | 15 February 2025 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |

#### Team podiums

* 6 victories – (2 RL, 4 TS)
* 6 podiums – (2 RL, 4 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
| 1 | 2018–19 | 13 January 2019 | Dresden, Germany | 6 × 1.6 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Skar |
| 2 | 2019–20 | 22 December 2019 | Planica, Slovenia | 6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Skar |
| 3 | 2021–22 | 5 December 2021 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Iversen / Krüger / Klæbo |
| 4 | 2022–23 | 24 March 2023 | Lahti, Finland | 6 × 1.4 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Klæbo |
| 5 | 2023–24 | 21 January 2024 | Oberhof, Germany | 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Nyenget / Golberg / Klæbo |
| 6 | 2024–25 | 31 January 2025 | Cogne, Italy | 6 × 1.3 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 1st | Northug |