LAKE PLACID, New York - Mariel Pulles of the Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team just etched her name in international history by winning the gold medal at the FISU World University Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. over the weekend. 

On Sunday, Jan. 15, Pulles posted a finals time of 2:54.57 in the women's sprint free, besting Tina Olkkonen (2:55.20) of Finland and Anna-Maria Dietze (2:55.50) of Germany, who joined her on the podium in second and third, respectively. With the first-place victory and gold medal, Pulles became the first-ever Estonian to win a winter gold medal at the FISU World University Games and gave Estonia their first FISU Winter Games medal since Kaili Sirge won a cross country skiing bronze at Torino 2007. 

"I feel amazing," said Pulles after the race. "I had dreamed about it before my season started, and now I just managed to do it." (FISU Release, Jan. 16, 2023)

On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 17, Pulles earned another medal, this time the silver medal in the women's 5k individual classic. She earned another trip to the podium behind a time of 13:38.2 , trailing the winner from Finland, Hilla Niemela, who finished the race in a time of 13:20.8.

Maria Eugenia Boccardi finished in third, rounding out the podium with a time of 13:43.0. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 18, Pulles will make another push for the podium in the 5k freestyle pursuit; she will start 17.4 seconds behind Niemela, using today's finishing times and placements as tomorrow's starting point. The race will begin at 5:05 a.m. AKT/9:05 a.m. EST and can be viewed on ESPN+. For live results (CLICK HERE).

The Lake Placid 2023 World University Games conclude on Sunday, Jan. 22. 

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team, follow @NanookSkiing on Instagram, @NanooksSki on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.