PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Anna-Carin Zidek is a Swedish biathlon icon.
Now she gives her view of Swedish biathlon today.
– It’s a bit thin behind, Zidek tells Sportbibeln.
Anna-Carin Zidek, formerly Anna-Carin Olofsson, is the cross-country skier who became a biathlete and achieved great success. She became “ACO” with the entire Swedish people when she won two Olympic medals in biathlon during the Olympics in Turin in 2006.
Zidek’s career
It was a gold in the 12.5 kilometer mass start and a silver in the sprint that Anna-Carin Zidek brought home after those Olympic days in Turin. In the WC, ACO has three individual medals, and another three in mixed relay that she competed in among other things Helena Ekholm and Bjorn Ferry.
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It is now over ten years since Zidek ended his professional skiing career. Today she is a teacher and coach at the ski high school in Sveg. But Anna-Carin continues to follow biathlon from a distance, especially the Swedes.
– I think it maintains a high level. They have a lot of people who get good results, she tells Sportbibeln.
Biathlon today
Zidek has noticed a certain difference between the women’s and men’s side.
– On the women’s side, you have several who can be on the podium, I think that’s funny. The gentlemen are still like, they have some special names that can be up there, but it’s a bit thin behind. But I hope that these younger guys who get to be out there now and drive will develop in the right direction, says the 50-year-old.
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Do you have any idea why the ladies are one step ahead of the men right now?
– No, I guess I haven’t had any particular thought about it. But it has been like that for quite a few years anyway. Maybe it goes in waves.
Is there a tendency you notice when you teach at school?
– No, I don’t think so, I don’t notice any difference. They are equally willing to exercise regardless of gender, says Zidek.
What do you think of Swedish biathlon today? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Olympic hero Anna Carin Zidek surprised by Stina Nilsson’s failure – made the same sport change: “Backed”
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