PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He has won double Olympic gold.
Now Daniel Rickardsson is taking on a completely new challenge – with a new job.
– The experience that I have from my own career is an important thing that I can contribute with, says the former cross-country skier in a statement.
It is mainly in relays that Daniel Rickardsson have salvaged their medals over the years. Three World Cup silvers, one World Cup bronze and, of course, double Olympic gold that stand out the most in the merit list.
Rickardsson’s new
His skiing career ended in 2021, but the 41-year-old still hasn’t left the sport for that. Last season, Rickardsson entered a completely new part of skiing.
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When he took over as the new guide for the paraskier Sebastian Modin. They found each other immediately and the collaboration led to an impressive four WC medals during the last Para WC on home ground in Östersund.
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Taking over the national team
Now Rickardsson gets even more responsibility and has got a new job as the national team captain for the para national team in cross-country skiing and biathlon.
– I learned an awful lot during the last season. Before I became a guide to Zebastian, I didn’t know more about para sports than what I had seen on TV. It was very much new for me, but it was a fantastic world to be in and I have felt that it would be fun to continue with this, but in a broader role, says Rickardsson according to Dagens Nyheter.
– A big difference compared to cross-country skiing during my own career is that there are significantly fewer athletes in the para competitions. It leads to becoming like a big family. Riders with the same handicap help each other develop.
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Daniel Rickardsson will lead the para national team together with Nina Johnsonwho has been a leader in the national team since before.
– He is a very good colleague and we will collaborate around the different parts that the mission entails, everything from training setup and follow-up to competition planning and administrative bits such as bookings around camps and competitions, he says in a statement.
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“Modin is important”
The para-national team in cross-country skiing and biathlon consists of six skiers, with Modin being the big star and the most successful.
– He has the greatest focus on the championships and, as I understand it, has his sights set on the Paralympics in Milan/Cortina in 2026. He is also important when it comes to inspiring the others, says Rickardsson.
The next championship is the para-World Championships in biathlon early next year in Canada. Rickardsson will also combine his new assignment with continuing to be the confederation captain for the junior national team in biathlon.
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