Linn Svahn had already left. Now Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist have also left the national team.
Now Mathias Fredriksson is sharply critical of the national team.
– In the long run, it’s a bit bad, says the SVT expert.
Charlotte Kalla chose for many years of her career to work outside the national team’s training groups, and now several big stars have taken the decision. In connection with Linn Svahn rehabilitating her shoulder injury, she has announced that she is leaving the national team – and yesterday the big bomb went off.
“It is bad”
On Monday, Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist announced that they both choose to invest in the national team. The explanation is that the duo wants to optimize the investment going forward, and that it is not a financial issue.
But SVT expert Mathias Fredriksson believes that it can be costly for the national team. However, Fredriksson does not believe that Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist will be significantly affected.
– It does not mean much to the riders. It is established skiers who know what is required and they themselves have chosen to get off. For the national ski team, however, it is a big break, as they lose three of the absolute biggest stars, he says, and continues:
– You want the best riders to be in the same environment, and the obvious choice should be in the national team. Now it is demonstrably not so, which is a big break, and in the long run it is a bit bad for the national team. It generates less sponsorship revenue.
“It’s not good”
At the same time, Fredriksson believes that it can be costly for the association, in relation to sponsors.
– The three biggest choose to step down from the national ski team, so it is clear that the sponsors want to be seen with the best skiers. The cross-country national team brand becomes less attractive when the three riders choose to run their own set-up.
At the same time, he hopes that the national team and the duo can find a successful path together next season.
– I hope that it is not a schism, that you go together and drive under the same flag when the competitions start. In the long run, you have to look at this. It is not good if so many people choose to run their own scheme.
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