PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Stina Nilsson is the skier who changed cross-country skiing to biathlon.
The former cross-country skier Marie-Helene Östlund had not been able to do the same.
– There wasn’t, says “Billan” to Sportbibeln.
Marie-Helene Östlundformerly Westin, became “Billan” with the entire Swedish people when she won her WC gold in the 20 kilometer freestyle during the championship in Oberstdorf in 1987, and her life changed forever.
The car today
Due to problems with heart palpitations, Östlund was forced to end his career at only 29 years old. But she still managed to take three more WC medals, two wins in the World Cup and a number of victories in the SM during the nine-year professional career.
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After his career, Billan has continued to follow skiing. Mainly cross-country skiing, but she also knows a bit about biathlon. Among other things, she has noticed Stina Nilsson’s journey from one of the best cross-country skiers to being in and out of the squad for the Biathlon World Cup.
– It is proof that it is not so easy to enter and make a career in a completely new sport, says Östlund to Sportbibeln.
The words about Stina
Stina Nilsson’s first season was a quiet one due to the corona pandemic, which led to few competitions. The 2021/2022 season was a step forward for her in her biathlon. But last and current season have been tougher, and there have been a lot of competitors in the IBU Cup instead of the World Cup. Many experts are now questioning how things will go forward for Stina.
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Can Stina Nilsson work her way back and become one of the best again, stuck in her new sport?
– It’s not easy, because there you have a very strong team with a lot of talented girls. She entered exactly that era when they develop and all the girls became so talented, so that didn’t make it any easier for Stina. But it’s not impossible, I don’t think so. But if she continues to fight and believe in herself, nothing is impossible. Only that it may take a little longer, says Billan Östlund.
READ MORE: “Billan” Östlund wrote Swedish sports history and left the skiing life – here is the hero’s new life today: “Don’t miss it”
“Did not exist”
Did Stina make the right decision to change sports?
– For her, it was probably right. From her perspective.
Do you think you could have made a similar decision when you were active?
– No, there wasn’t any, says Östlund.
READ MORE: “Billan” Östlund’s harsh criticism of Russian participants in the Olympics – after the controversial statement that caused emotions: “I don’t think…”
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