Photo: Bildbyrån
Jonna Sundling has won double sprint gold two WCs in a row.
Now she is aiming for new successes in Trondheim after the turn of the year – thanks to a decision that could turn out to be absolutely decisive.
– Now I have more ended up in the situation where I have gone back to sprint training, she tells Sportbibeln.
She is arguably the best sprinter in the world. Jonna Sundling29, has won World Cup gold in both the sprint and sprint relay in Oberstdorf 2021 and Planica 2023. In addition, she managed a gold in the sprint, a silver in the sprint relay and a bronze in the relay during the Beijing Olympics in between.
Tough competition for Sundling
This year the competition on the sprint side is tough. Sundling has Maja Dahlqvist, Lynn Svahn, Johanna Hagström and Emma Ribom to be played against from the own national team. In addition, is Kristine Stavå’s Ski City (missing the opening due to stomach surgery), Jessie Diggins and Nadine Fähndrich some of the major threats.
READ MORE: Maja Dahlqvist is forced to change plans due to her age
Last season it was Linn Svahn who won the entire sprint cup and Sundling only came third. For Sportbibeln, the Piteå skater tells us that she trained in a different way last year, more suited to distance, but that this summer she has chosen a different set-up that suits her better.
– It feels good that there is a new season around the corner, we will soon be on the starting line again. You have been in some kind of training bubble yourself. We are training for next season, but next season is almost here. It feels like I got good preparation during the summer and autumn. I have been able to train as I have wanted, followed my plan. Not much interruption at all. To get this continuity that you try to get during the pre-season, she says.
Jonna Sundling’s new arrangement
In short, it means that Jonna Sundling should train more on things that strengthen her sprinting abilities. It is true that she took the first distance victory of her career at the World Cup last season, but she thinks that if there is to be a WC gold in Trondheim next year, it is the sprint that counts.
– Last year I tried new things because it wasn’t a championship year, so there was room to be a little “wild and crazy” and go outside the box and run a slightly different training plan. Basically it was pretty much the same as before except for some stuff that was geared towards distance skiing. Now I’ve gotten more into the situation where I’ve gone back to sprint training and worked a lot on what is “safe” that we know and that we believe works a lot for me, she says.
READ MORE: Skiing stars Jonna Sundling and Linn Svahn nod: “It sucks”
The original plan is that she will not run the Tour de Ski this year, but continue to compete in some distance competitions. Even though the WC is far away, it is already a matter of planning smartly how the season will look like.
– When we stand here and now, I am very here and now. The WC is a bit away, but it is clear that I have it in the back of my mind. There are competitions before and we will set it up in a way so that I will be in as good shape as possible for the WC. That might include me opting out of some World Cup events to get some practice in.
Good luck this winter, Jonna! You are a true superstar that we all root for. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you and the other Swedes.
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