Photo: Bildbyrån
Many of the world’s best cross-country skiers on the women’s side are Swedes.
They train with each other on a daily basis and are friends in private – but suddenly they are rivals on the track.
– That’s what we are. Sometimes even the worst competitors, says Jonna Sundling to Sportbibeln.
We are lucky here in Sweden right now that we have so many good cross-country skiers on the women’s side right now. Frida Karlsson won Friday’s 10-kilometer race in the World Cup premiere in Ruka, Finland. During Saturday, there was a real bang in the sprint: Johanna Hagström went on to win over the rest of the starting field. She defeated strong Swedish competitors such as Maja Dahlqvist, Jonna Sundling and Lynn Svahn. In addition, there are Ebba Andersson, Emma Ribom and Moa Ilar in the Swedish national team.
Jonna Sundling on the relationship with the Swedes
The Swedish national team skaters are all really good friends and they usually train together. But because they are also very successful, there are often exciting duels when they meet at the competitions. Then the Swedes suddenly become great rivals.
– You learn to distinguish between friends and competition. That’s what we are. Sometimes even the worst competitors. Sometimes I can feel, when you are in a sprint heat and you are four or five Swedes, it can feel like home. It feels safe. As if you had been to a training session. We give and take and learn from each other all the time, says Jonna Sundling in an interview with Sportbibeln.
READ MORE: Calle Halfvarsson is furious with his rival after the World Cup premiere
Sour faces in the cross-country team
At the same time, it is positive that there are so many of them from the same country who are successful right now. The national team skaters push each other forward.
– We probably wouldn’t be where we are today and be such a good group if we weren’t the kind of people who really want a lot and push each other, says Sundling.
Are there very sour faces at times too?
– It could be. It’s natural, it’s normal. Otherwise, it might be strange. You must not lie on the lazy side.
READ MORE: Frida Karlsson strikes back against Johaug and Björgen
It’s so fun to see all the talented skiers we have in Sweden right now. It is a joy to follow them. Hey hey! You are all so talented.
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