Photo: Bildbyrån
After winning double JVM gold last year, it now looks like the great talent Alvar Myhlback will not be selected this year.
SVT expert Anders Blomquist thinks that is completely crazy.
– I get upset, cursed and sad that you can’t depart from rather rigid principles in a case like this, he says to SVT Sport.
He has as good a chance in cross-country skiing as in long-distance skiing, and yet he hasn’t Alvar Myhlback18, has chosen what he will invest his whole heart in. It seems to be in his favor. After a double JVM gold in cross-country skiing last year and a third place in the Vasaloppet, Alvar aimed for the senior WC in Trondheim this year – that possibility is almost gone. Now comes the next blow!
Alvar Myhlback’s disappointment
The squad for the JVM in Italian Schilpario is called today (Thursday), but as he has not heard from the federation, he assumes he is not selected.
– I guess I’m not there. I can’t understand it. Obviously annoying as I would really like to join. It’s sad, he says at a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Ski Classics.
GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Skiing WC 2025: Schedule and TV times for all races
The reason is that he chose to run a long race, Ski Classics in the Engadin, last weekend instead of participating in a qualifying competition for the JVM.
– I don’t think it should be a discussion. It takes a lot of energy which is a shame. And that it is not fair. They make a decision that they know is not good for any of us. I just think it’s totally stupid, he says.
Anders Blomquist defends Alvar
Now he gets answers from Linda Danvind Malmleader of the Swedish junior national team. She does not want to comment yet on whether Myhlback will be included in the squad, but writes in a text message to TT that he knew very well what was required to be selected for the championship.
“You have to have a result from our national junior cup and JVM test and the competitions in Bergeforsen are important. We establish our selection criteria for all selections before the season to give fair conditions to all active so that they know what it takes to make it to the championship,” she writes.
READ MORE: Jacob Hård and Anders Blomquist about Alvar Myhlback
One person who doesn’t buy that is SVT’s experienced TV expert Anders “Blomman” Blomquist. He thinks it would be a scandal if Alvar wasn’t part of JVM.
– I get upset, pissed off and saddened that you can’t depart from fairly rigid principles in a case like this. It is a given that he has the Junior WC to do and that he will be able to perform for Sweden, he tells SVT Sport.
Blomquist thinks that Alvar is a given
He thinks the fact that the association has clear regulations is good in situations where it is between two riders for a place. But now it is an exceptional talent that is at stake.
– I understand that it can be a problem when you have young practitioners that there should be a set of rules, and that it should be fair. And if it is the case that there are borderline cases between some riders, who should be allowed to ride and who should not be allowed to ride, then you must absolutely lean against the rules. But in this case sportingly, it is so obvious that Alvar should be there, he says.
He believes that if you are on the verge of being part of the senior national team, it should be obvious that you compete for the junior national team as well.
– If he had skied well this year, he would have made it to the WC. He is a given in the U23 World Cup, he has managed everything there. That he didn’t go in a junior competition because he wants to prepare, that’s stupid, he says of the association’s justification.
What do you think about this? Should Alvar Myhlback be included in the Swedish JVM squad? Feel free to write a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page!
Share