Norway won gold – and Sweden had to settle for bronze.
But in the Norwegian camp they were crazy about Emma Ribom.
– It boils in me, says coach Stig Rune Kveen.
The women’s WC relay was – just as usual – highly dramatic. Emma Ribom got the chance to drive Sweden’s first stage, and did it well. But it was a tight top group, and there wasn’t much room to go as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany battled for the top spots.
“It’s boiling in me”
Once Emma Ribom handed over to Ebba Andersson, Sweden and Norway were completely equal. But right after the switch, it was time for the next drama – which the TV viewers missed. In retrospect, it came out that Norway was mad against Sweden and Emma Ribom.
Norwegian leaders believed that Emma Ribom was on Tiril Udnes Weng’s skis on several occasions. It made the Norwegian coach Stig Rune Kveen see completely red.
– I feel that it just boils inside me, he says to NRK.
READ MORE: WC bronze to Sweden in the relay after a shock – Ebba Andersson in a highly dramatic case
Norwegian star’s words
However, Tiril Udnes Weng was also on Emma Ribom’s skis, and even received a warning for it. Weng downplayed the events afterward.
– She was on me, but I was on her too. We were close to each other. We both could have kept some distance. It’s probably a Swedish boss standing there cooking because of me, she says.
In the second stage, Ebba Anderson then fell, and Sweden’s golden chances probably disappeared there. Frida Karlsson was 9 seconds behind Norway when she caught up, but lost a huge amount during her stretch. Maja Dahlqvist had to sprint for the bronze against Finland, and then secured Sweden’s ninth medal in this year’s WC.
READ MORE: Norway in shock over the Swedish election during the World Cup – sees the decision ahead of the relay: “Hardly believed it was true”