Only two women’s skiers left Planica with double gold medals in distance: Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling. The championship’s obvious sprint queen was Sundling, who won gold both individually and in the sprint relay.
But it was a WC with two faces for the 28-year-old.
After the successful start, most people thought that she was a given in a Swedish relay team. But a worse performance in the 10 kilometer freestyle (Sundling was 21st) led to her being kicked in favor of Maja Dahlqvist, who then sprinted a gold-prone Sweden to a bronze medal.
It hurt, she admits ahead of today’s sprint in Norwegian Drammen, Sundling’s first competition since the 10-kilometer race at the WC.
— The WC started with a real peak. But the ending was nothing that you had dreamed of right away. It was what it was. I did what I could on “tian”, but it was not a good day. I don’t really know why it didn’t fit. And then I got poked from the relay and chose not to ride the three-mile, says Sundling.
No five plus WC
Therefore, she is not completely satisfied with her championship. Despite the fact that, just like in Oberstdorf two years ago, she came home with double WC gold.
— You take out the team you believe in. And this time I wasn’t included. Of course we have discussions, but in the end it is the management that chooses who will be on the starting line. It’s always boring to be the one standing on the sidelines, says Sundling about the relay race.
— It’s probably something that makes me perhaps not feel that there was a “five plus” feeling at the WC. At the same time, I still touched my Oberstdorf WC. So in that way I’m very happy and proud, because not everyone does.
With the benefit of hindsight, she might have stood over the 10-kilometer race, she says. But instead of dwelling on it, she chooses to look ahead, closer to today’s sprint in classic style.
Jonna Sundling missed the start of the season due to illness, but has been in great shape after the comeback. Five sprints – four in the World Cup, one at the WC – have resulted in four victories.
Now four individual World Cup sprints remain, all packed in the next two weeks: in Drammen, Falun, Tallinn and Lahtis.
— I feel very motivated and ready for this part of the season. Especially since the last few competitions were a bit worse for me. That’s why I’m looking forward to what’s to come. I take it competition by competition, but the ambition is to ride as much as possible.
Critical to the schedule
Sprint is a priority, but Sundling would like to get in one or a few distance races before the season is over. Under normal circumstances, she would have even been happy to run the five-mile in Holmenkollen on Sunday. But the historic event, the first women’s 50-kilometer race in the World Cup, was ultimately never on the cards for her.
Only 32 ladies came to the start, twelve of whom were Norwegian, and the International Skiing and Snowboarding Federation (FIS) should probably think about whether it is not possible to schedule better in the future, says Sundling.
— You really have to think about that. It feels like you could have calculated it. It’s a pretty tight schedule and five miles is not to be trifled with. I think a lot of people wanted to ride it but felt it was too tight. Given the physical state I was in after the WC, I didn’t feel it was relevant now. And then I didn’t even ride the three miles.