PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Thomas Wassberg and Gunde Svan are two of the greatest in Swedish skiing.
But now a legendary coup by Wassberg is revealed.
As Svan tells the truth about – 38 years later.
There are few Swedish skiers who can measure up to the iconic one Gunde Swan. He took home six Olympic medals, 11 World Cup medals and won the overall World Cup five times.
Gunde’s career
Gunde is truly part of the Swedish folk soul and one of our absolute greatest skiing heroes of all time. After the active career as a cross-country skier, Svan went straight into the TV box and retrained as a program host and popular TV personality.
The article continues after the picture.
The skiing icon is still relevant in television programs and he is probably best known for his many years as presenter of the TV4 long-distance runner “The prisoners on the fort”.
– There are many in a younger generation who only know him as a presenter and who barely know that he was the world’s greatest skier of all time when he ended his career. We want to tell you that, says the SVT profile Jacob Hard in an interview with SportExpressen.
READ MORE: Ferry Svan’s honest words about father Gunde Svan – the son now answers what everyone is wondering: “All my life”
Legends Swan
Therefore, SVT and Hård are currently working on a documentary about the skier Gunde Svan, which will be shown later this winter. A mix of old and new material will be shown to give an honest picture of how successful Gunde was on the ski slopes and what profile he was on the sidelines.
The article continues after the picture.
What Jacob Hård has been most impressed by during the television recording is hearing the competitors express their great respect for the Swedish skiing legend.
– It was striking when we talked to his competitors how incredibly big he was. And how innovative he was. How they looked at Gunde and almost felt beaten in advance when he arrived with his private serviceman and twice as many skis as them. How they looked at Gunde and thought: “How are we ever going to get there?”, because that’s what they say. It was exciting, the SVT journalist tells the evening newspaper.
READ MORE: The truth about Thomas Wassberg and Gunde Svan revealed – the arch-rival breaks the myth after 40 years
Wassberg’s trick
Gunde Svan also reveals what actually happened that day in 1985 when the teammate Thomas Wassberg fooled the entire skiing world with the most brilliant coup. It was the season when the skate style took off in earnest and special areas were introduced in Holmenkollen where you had to skate classically and wear a tightrope.
But then the good Wassberg surprised everyone with a real genius trick. 38 years later, Gunde admits the truth behind the ingenious trick.
– Then Wassberg did a very clever thing. He had taped his skis, and rolled over the tape. After the last classic zone, he stopped. “What is he doing?”, everyone thought. He took the time to peel off the tape, and then he had faster skis than everyone else and won the race. My image has always been that it was Wassberg’s idea. But now Gunde told me that it was something they talked about in the national team several days before – but that it was only Wassberg who dared, says Jacob Hård in the interview before he laughs.
– But as I said, it’s really on a geek level.
What do you think of the brilliant skiing coup? Share the article and have your say!