PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Skiing SM in Boden is a single big display of Jonna Sundling.
In the 10 kilometer classic, the 29-year-old’s third gold came in as many days.
And there could be more.
Neither distance, format nor riding style seems to matter this week. Jonna Sundling is best whatever is on the show. She won the initial mass start over 20 kilometers in freestyle after a sprint battle with Lynn Svahn.
She took Thursday’s sprint relay and Emma Ribom home in completely superior style. And on Friday’s 10 kilometer classic, with an individual start, Sundling was once again in a class of his own.
– It’s very nice to feel strong and to be able to push for a longer time, says Sundling to SVT.
Sundling’s success
The Piteå Elite colleague Ebba Andersson was the closest to threatening, but still not quite close. Already after two kilometers, Sundling was twelve seconds ahead, and the distance only grew with each pass.
The article continues below.
Sundling took home his sixth SC gold in his career with a margin of 32 seconds down to the silver medalist Andersson.
– It was tricky before today and the choice of skis is extra clever when it’s around “zero” and it’s snowing. I rarely go more on the slide than on the mount, but today I took a bit of a chance and I think that was good, says Sundling.
The fight for the bronze became all the more exciting. Frida Karlsson had a grip on the bronze initially, but the form is not quite there for the national team star who ended up seventh.
READ MORE: Ebba Andersson’s unexpected call to King Carl XVI Gustaf himself: “He had no idea”
Could be six gold
Instead, it was Linn Svahn who got on the podium after a fine finish, 44 seconds behind Sundling in the end. Svahn was challenged for a long time by Trillevallen’s Märta Rosenberg, who was on her way to a bronze. Heavy last kilometers, however, made Rosenberg lose a lot at the end, and finished fourth.
The article continues after the picture.
Jonna Sundling can grab all six golds during the SC week. The 29-year-old gets to carry the favorite in Sunday’s freestyle sprint and on Monday her Piteå Elite is a heavy gold candidate in the relay. The SM then ends with a classic three-mile race on Tuesday.
– There are three competitions left, so we’ll see how it develops. But we are here to try to win, says Sundling.
Share the article to pay tribute to the fantastic Jonna Sundling! 🥇
Sign up for our newsletter
Share