Whitehorse cross-country skier Emily Nishikawa enjoyed a strong start to her season last Sunday.

The 25-year-old glided to a fourth-place finish in Gällivare, Sweden, in a 10-kilometre International Ski Federation (FIS) race, behind three Czech skiers.

The event served as a training camp for Team Canada, which has since travelled to Kuusamo, Finland, in preparation for the first World Cup races of the season this weekend.

The Whitehorse native finished 1:22.8 behind race winner Petra Novakova, and was 32 seconds away from landing a podium position.

“It was nice to start off the season on a high note,” Nishikawa told the Star via email. “I was not in top form, but that is to be expected at this time of year.

“I am looking to keep improving throughout each weekend. My main goal for the season is to score World Cup points, which is done by placing in the top 30.”

Nishikawa will race in a 10-km classic race this Sunday – her first World Cup event this season.

Last season, Nishikawa became the first winter Olympian from the Yukon in more than two decades.

Despite coming down with a cold, she led the Canadian women’s contingent in two races in Sochi, with her best result coming in the 15-km skiathlon, where she placed 42nd.

Nishikawa went on to win two gold medals and a silver at the Haywood Ski Nationals in Newfoundland.

For her efforts, the Yukon-born skier was awarded a key to the city and had a day named in her honour by Whitehorse city council.

Last week, she earned her fourth straight International Female Athlete of the Year award from Sport Yukon – a feat Nishikawa said was “such an honour.”