Photo: Bildbyrån, SVT
Elsa Tänglander, 17, is Sweden’s hottest talent in both biathlon and cross-country skiing.
Now she has chosen to invest in biathlon. But there are doubts about whether she is ready for the World Cup.
She belongs to the world elite in two different sports. 17-year-old Swede Elsa Tänglander is the name on everyone’s lips after she won gold in cross-country skiing at the Youth Olympics and also JVM gold in biathlon.
Elsa Tänglander’s tough decision
However, being so talented comes with some problems. The teenager has had to make a tough decision about which sport she should really focus on. Last spring, she finally chose biathlon.
– I want to compete in both as much as possible, then it is clear that one of my big goals is the JVM in biathlon in Östersund. So it’s probably good to do some biathlon before then, she told SVT.
READ MORE: Swedish skiing talent Elsa Tänglander can change sports again
However, it is not completely done for her with a future career as a cross-country skier.
– I have also met the junior coach there and tuned in a bit and I know what I need to do this winter to qualify for bigger competitions so I have good contact, she has said.
When SVT’s Vinterstudion discussed her future last weekend, it turned out that the former biathletes Bjorn Ferry and Mona Brorsson had slightly different ideas about how good Elsa can be this season. The latter expert says that she absolutely does not think that Tänglander should run the World Cup this year.
– Personally, I say no, it’s too early. She is not ready to compete there yet. First of all, we have a really strong women’s team, so it is also a question: Who should be poked in such cases?, she says in Vinterstudion.
READ MORE: Björn Ferry strikes back after Sebastian Samuelsson’s words
The commentator Ola Branholm sticks in between. He says that the association has already made an exception for Elsa’s sake. Maybe there could be one more?
– They have already made an exception for her as well. To lift her up in this second team if you say so. There are not that many 17-year-olds, or no 17-year-old, who have been there before, he says.
Björn Ferry has a slightly more open approach. He thinks that if Tänglander proves that she is good enough, she should be allowed to go to the World Cup.
– Reality will still determine if it turns out that she would be – contrary to the assumption then – the best in the team, by far better than Elvira Öbergwell then she will go, he says.
What do you think about Elsa Tänglander’s future? Feel free to write a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page.
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