“It’s below the belt”
Former national coach reacts to criticism
April 24, 2026 – 12:38 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
After his farewell, a long-time Swedish official speaks out again. The main thing is how we interact within the team.
The long-time national team leader of the Swedish cross-country skiers Anders Byström has responded to anonymous criticism that is said to have cost him his job. “I want respect, but instead I get stabbed in the back,” he told Swedish television station SVT. “I was disappointed that some athletes went behind my back.”
The association announced at the end of March that Byström would be resigning after six years in office. He had previously faced criticism that dissatisfaction had spread within the team. Byström was accused, among other things, of poor communication. Athletes are said to have felt neglected under him and called for his resignation, according to the Swedish newspaper Expressen.
“You should feel free to express criticism and feedback, but the way you did it is below the belt,” Byström now clarified with some distance. It feels “unfair if you don’t understand exactly what I did wrong in my role.”
Byström emphasized that his tasks go beyond public perception. Decisions about nominations are only a small part of his work. It’s more about creating structures and working with the team behind the athletes. “We managed that well and we were a well-oiled machine,” said Byström.
At the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Swedish cross-country skiing team returned with five gold, four silver and one bronze medals. Despite good results, the mood was “negative”. So Byström was clear: “That’s enough.” There was support after the allegations from Swedish star Frida Karlsson became known. “We are all human, everyone makes mistakes,” explained the reigning Olympic champion. According to the 26-year-old, there is “potential for development everywhere,” not least in the area of communication.