PHOTO: Bildbyrån
There have been great Swedish successes in sprints in recent seasons.
But there is also a really sharp contender.
– I think that duel is needed, says Linn Svahn to Nettavisen.
As neighboring countries, there has long been a struggle between Sweden and Norway. Competition can be found in all sports, but it has probably been most noticeable in winter and skiing sports.
Sweden in sprint
Sweden has really been successful in cross-country sprints recently. Maja Dahlqvist has won the overall sprint cup two years in a row. Jonna Sundling has many times been up and fought for podium places, and won several sprints. Sundling also became last season’s sprint queen in the skiing World Cup with gold in the sprint and the sprint relay.
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This season it is Emma Ribom who started best, with two victories in the sprint at the World Cup. But there is also a certain Norwegian that also delivered. Kristine Stavå’s Ski City won the final five sprints last season, and this season has been second and third.
– She is strong. It is no child’s play to handle her, says Lynn Svahn about Stavås Skistad to Nettavisen.
Svahn about Skistad
Even Emma Ribom is praised for the sprinting qualities of the Norwegian 24-year-old.
– It was very inspiring to see her skiing last season. I was sick after the WC so I got to watch many of the competitions on TV from the couch. It was really powerful skiing. We were very impressed and excited and curious about what she would present this year. It’s fun that she is a “fighter”, says Ribom to the Norwegian site.
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It has usually been Stavås Skistad and we have seen two Swedish women on the podium in the sprint since last season. A duel between countries that Linn Svahn views positively.
– I think that duel is needed. Norway and Sweden are the two superpowers in cross-country skiing and then you need a duel in every race to make them interesting. It is now. I can imagine that it is quite exciting when there are many Swedes against an extremely strong Norwegian runner. That’s roughly how it has looked, says Svahn.
READ MORE: The secret behind Emma Ribom’s great success this winter – a certain Charlotte Kalla(!): “Nothing I expected”
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