PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The national team management called all skaters to a crisis meeting at the hotel last Wednesday evening.
Ebba Andersson fell into the trap.
– I started thinking all sorts of catastrophic thoughts, she says.
Then the cakes were laid out to celebrate the recent winner of the Jerring Prize. Stunned on Monday night, really feigned by the national team leaders and teammates a few days later.
Andersson lied
It has been a whirlwind of days for the cross-country star Ebba Andersson. She laughs at the fact that she cheated when it was time to jointly celebrate the award.
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The last time a cross-country skier took home the Jerring prize was in 2008 Charlotte Kalla received the most votes. So there was really reason to joke about it.
– I came down there to the meeting unknowingly. The rest of the gang sat together. One of our leaders began to speak rather seriously, expressing his disappointment that 48 hours had passed.
– I started thinking: what has happened in the last 48 hours? What have we done now? I started thinking all sorts of catastrophic thoughts, but in the end he (Lars Ljung) blurted out that we didn’t actually have the opportunity to celebrate this award. I have to say that he held the mask well, says Ebba Andersson on the phone from Switzerland.
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Have you recovered from all the hubbub?
– Well… yes, I would probably say that I have. I was very surprised in the broadcast on Monday. When I sat there with Duplantis, I thought it was fun while it lasted, but now it’s almost time to congratulate.
– Then my name was read out. It took a few seconds before I actually understood. Of course I knew the chance was there, but to be honest I was happy with every step I made. It may be a consequence of many times underestimating yourself and overestimating others.
Ebba’s new message
She is one of many winter athletes who got hit by the latest covid variant during the winter. She thought she was healthy enough to ride the Tour de Ski around the turn of the year, but broke after three stages.
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The return in Oberhof a week ago resulted in an eleventh place in the classic mass start over 20 kilometers. With a stable stretch, she contributed to the relay victory on Sunday.
How has the body responded to the return?
– Better and better. I definitely noticed that I lacked the speed that I need in the crucial situations that were required in that race. But physically I am not limited as in Toblach.
– It’s more that I have to gradually find my way back to the shape I was in before I got sick.
Surely Ebba Andersson is a worthy winner of the Jerring Prize? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Jacob Hård’s beautiful words about Ebba Andersson reveal why she won the Jerring Prize before Armand Duplantis
Born: 10 July 1997 (age 25) in Delsbo.
Club: Piteå Elite.
Main merits: WC gold in skiathlon (2023), WC gold in 30 km (2023), WC gold in relay (2019), WC silver in relay (2017), WC bronze in 10 km (2023), WC bronze in relay (2023), WC bronze in 10 km (2021), WC bronze in skiathlon (2021), Olympic silver in relay (2018), Olympic bronze in relay (2022).
Debut in the World Cup: February 15, 2015.
Current: Won the voting for the Jerring Prize on Monday. Races in Goms, Switzerland, Friday through Sunday.
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