PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He has been one of the big names in Swedish skiing on the men’s side.
But now Oskar Svensson is nobbed completely to the national team squad for the skiing WC.
– It’s tough, a tough announcement, he says of the disappointment to Radiosporten.
Recent years have Oskar Svensson been one of the most high-profile names on the men’s side in cross-country skiing. The 27-year-old has won three consecutive Ski World Championships for Sweden, but it will not be a fourth in a row.
Svensson is poked
On Tuesday, it was announced that Svensson may stay at home and not accompany the rest of the Swedish national team to the World Ski Championships. A poke, simply.
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The sprint specialist has had a difficult season behind him and in two long years he has not reached a single individual final place at the World Cup. Nevertheless, Svensson was hopeful of getting a place in this year’s World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia, but that was not the case.
– It’s tough, a tough message. That is the big goal during the season at the same time as I have had a very difficult season with a lot of illnesses and not at all performing at the level that I want or hoped for. I am disappointed in myself, he says in an interview with Radiosporten.
– Still sad, I think I have a positive trend in the season, but it is frustrating not to be able to drive.
READ MORE: The national team fights back against the Swedish icon – sour response after the huge criticism: “He is so grumpy…”
Sweden’s response
Swedish national team manager Anders Byström explains the decision to poke Oskar Svensson as completely reasonable if you look at the results. Although of course it hurts to snub such a reliable national team skater.
– Unfortunately, he has not got the results required this year. We have four riders for the sprint who have been on the podium in the World Cup this year, so it’s not so strange. We think that Oskar has been given chances but has not managed to take them. It is obviously very sad for Oskar and we know that he has a high capacity, but which he has not been allowed to show. We have to be fair in a selection and look at the results that have been, he says to the radio channel.
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Now Svensson instead has to refocus and focus on the current SM week instead. To get back into shape and confidence in the tracks again, that’s his answer to the question of how to move on after a poke like this.
– It’s hard to say, you can drive the SM week and then go home and break down after that, he says in the interview.
READ MORE: Calle Halfvarsson’s wonderful words ahead of this year’s World Cup – how he will avoid another fiasco: “Want to leave here with a straight back”
Sweden’s squad:
LADIES
Ebba Andersson, Piteå Elite SK
Emma Ribom, Piteå Elite SK
Frida Karlsson, Sollefteå Skiing IF
Johanna Hagström, Ulricehamns IF
Jonna Sundling, Piteå Elite SK
Maja Dahlqvist, Falun-Borlänge SK
Moa Ilar, Falun-Borlänge SK
Linn Svahn, Östersund SK
GENTLEMEN
Calle Halfvarsson, Sågmyra SK
Edvin Anger, Åsarna IK
William Poromaa, Åsarna IK
Eric Rosjö, IFK Mora SK
Jens Burman, Åsarna IK
Johan Häggström, Piteå Elite SK
Marcus Grate, IFK Umeå
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