PHOTO: Bildbyrån + TT Nyhetsbyrån
Sweden is going very strong in cross-country skiing on the women’s side right now.
Some riders stand out a little extra.
– She is the best right now, says skiing icon “Billan” Östlund to Sportbibeln.
Marie-Helene Östlund was the cross-country skier who became “Billan” with the entire Swedish people overnight. After her successful World Cup gold in Oberstdorf in 1987, she really broke through as a 20-year-old.
Skiing today
For his performance in the WC, Östlund received both the Jerring prize and the Bragdgold (shared with the Swedish national ice hockey team). There were three more WC medals during his career, and also two wins in the World Cup. After problems with heart palpitations, despite several surgeries, Billan was forced to give up his elite effort at only 29 years old.
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Today, the 57-year-old has left her skiing career behind, and runs a conference facility with her husband Erik Östlund. But Marie-Helene still tries to do some skiing for exercise and for fun, and she sometimes teaches cross-country skiing to children at her facility. In addition, she still follows distance skiing.
The car’s best
But most people do that these days, when things are going so well for our Swedish ladies. Ebba Andersson, Emma Ribom, Lynn Svahn and Moa Ilar have all started the season in a very good way. Jonna Sundling, Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist has had a bit tougher time but has still managed to deliver some good results.
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Pointing out who is the best women’s skier right now is not easy, not even for someone as experienced as Billan Östlund.
– Difficult to answer actually, it was very difficult…, she tells Sportbibeln, but after a while of thinking can still give an answer:
– If you say Jonna Sundling in the sprint, and right now, it’s probably Ebba Andersson in traditional. But really, since Sundling has been ill, Emma Ribom is probably the best right now.
READ MORE: “Billan” Östlund’s harsh criticism of Russian participants in the Olympics – after the controversial statement that caused emotions: “I don’t think…”
Therefore the best
What makes Ebba and Emma so good?
– It is certain that they have trained hard, put in all the time required and submitted to the training that you need. And then that they are kind of strong through and through, you can see that. The technology has changed, it’s horse lengths from when we were active. Today, you are so much stronger in your whole body. Mainly trunk strength and things like that are seen with regard to staking and what has developed the most here in recent years, says Billan Östlund.
READ MORE: Torgny Mogren singles out the Swedish winner of the Tour de Ski – nods Frida Karlsson and Linn Svahn: “She is superior”
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