PHOTO: Bildbyrån
She is one of our biggest Swedish skiing talents.
But Erica Lavén has chosen to leave Sweden and change countries.
– It comes as a shock, she admits to Expressen.
She is one of our most promising cross-country skiers in Swedish skiing. Last season was successful Erica Lavén go to the final in the JVM sprint, become Swedish junior champion at the same distance and make a World Cup debut at senior level.
Leaving Sweden
However, the coming ski season will be completely different for the 20-year-old who made a decision that changes everything. Lavén has chosen to leave Sweden and thus the national team to change countries to the USA.
The article continues below.
Erica has moved to Salt Lake City to study at the University of Utah and cross-country ski in North America. Now she opens up about her controversial decision to leave Swedish skiing.
– It is a small wall against the A national team. They are very many established skaters who belong to the very best in the world. And most of them are young. We are maybe ten people just outside the team who are very even. It is even difficult to take out the Bauhaus national team (the level below the A national team), she tells Expressen.
“Like a shock”
The Swedish skiing talent has had to receive a lot of reactions after her move, many who support her in her decision but several are also surprised and puzzled.
– I have received a lot of question marks. If I’m going to quit, why I’m going there. If I don’t want to continue investing fully. But I’m not shocked by that. The plan to go over to the United States has not been presented in a good way before, Erica tells the evening newspaper and is then brutally honest.
– I think I will be forgotten. I am prepared for that. People won’t have a clue of what’s going on over here. It becomes a bit like mental training for me, that I go a bit under the radar and take care of myself. During the first year, at least, I don’t feel the need to be remembered at home.
READ MORE: Sebastian Samuelsson opens up about his new life alongside his biathlon career – now admits: “I miss it”
Lavén is already looking forward to returning to Sweden as a much better skier and dreams of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2027 World Ski Championships on home soil. Then big names like Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist having made his mark in the Swedish national ski team.
– People will remember if I come home from the USA and really perform well. It will be like a shock… And it’s quite fun to think about, she says in the interview.
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