Sweden’s gold dominance was broken.
Then the Norwegians cheered in the goal net.
– It is a great motivation for us, says Tiril Udnes Weng.
There were many who were jubilantly happy that Sweden did not win its fourth gold during the competitions in Planica on Tuesday. Many believed that it was important for cross-country skiing that a nation other than Sweden or Norway won – but there was also a lot of schadenfreude in Norway.
Norwegian performance
Sweden was clear that the big target picture was to win six out of six golds in the women’s competitions during this year’s WC, but that was not to be, after Jessie Diggins won the 10 kilometer race on Tuesday. And in Norway they didn’t even try to hide their joy that Frida Karlsson or Ebba Andersson didn’t get to stand at the top of the podium.
Tiril Udnes Weng was partly happy for Jessie Diggins. She is one of the most popular skaters in the world elite. But also because it did not become Swedish gold.
– It’s fun to see Jessie succeed, but it’s also great to see that it wasn’t Swedish gold, she says to NRK.
She was supported by Ingvild Flugstad Östberg.
– It’s good that Sweden doesn’t win all the gold, as they have meant they will, so that’s for sure anyway.
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“We said it right away…”
Norway believes that they immediately turned their eyes to the relay after Tuesday’s finish. And especially when Sweden did not win a fourth straight gold.
– We said it right away when we got to the finish line, that damn it we are motivated to beat the Swedes there. It is a great motivation for us at Alge. They are of course favourites, but we will give them a fight, says Udnes Weng.
Sweden’s ladies have still won many more medals than Norway in this year’s championships. Sweden won the triple in the sprint, the double in the skiathlon, gold in the sprint relay, and silver and bronze in Tuesday’s 10 kilometer race. Sweden are given favorites in the relay, which despite being a big favourite, they did not manage to get on the podium during the Olympics.
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