Sweden’s hard-luck duo returned to their level.
World Champion Maja Dahlqvist finally smiles. The season of the Swedish skiing star has been one big and painful mystery.
– Almost everything possible has been tested on me at the doctor. We tried to find out what is wrong with me. Nothing was found, says Dahlqvist.
The sprinter boasted that the summer training season was the best of his career, but the collapse came in October. At the opening of the World Cup in Ruka, he suffered from breathing problems and missed the sprint qualifying.
The star left Kuusamo immediately for home and missed the next World Cup. No reason for the problems was found.
The ship turned only this year. Dahlqvist skied fourth in the Davos sprint and was second in both Goms and Canmore.
– I reasoned that I trained too much and recovered too little. The body was too much in the minus. I’ve thought about everything, but that’s the only explanation. Combining training and rest is a puzzle, he says now.
“Never again”
Maja Dahlqvist smiles because the difficulties are finally history. PASI LEISMA
Dahlqvist is a two-time double relay world champion. He won silver in the double relay and sprint at the 2022 Olympics, and a year later in Planica he won bronze at the WC sprint.
That’s why health problems and three times outside the sprint final in the early season led to deep waters.
– For a while I thought that I would never be good again.
Now life is smiling. Dahlqvist feels that the last month in particular has been favorable.
– I feel my body again. Sometimes there are bad feelings, but in training and competitions I feel better again.
– Prize cup places mean a lot to me. I have proven to myself that I am capable of good results. The season is not over. I’m really looking forward to the final races.
Difficult subject
Linn Svahn recovered from her injury. PASI LEISMA
Team-mate Linn Svahnin the opposite is the case.
The young star was sidelined for the entire 2021-2022 season due to a shoulder injury. The health problems continued, and the following winter was only a few World Cup races long.
This winter, he’s back on top with a bang. Svahn has won six World Cup individual race victories and has been on the podium a total of 11 times.
– Feels good. I knew all along that I have been able to get top positions before. It was about getting back to that level. This doesn’t seem out of the ordinary or that I would have been concerned. It’s just great that I’ve been able to achieve my goals again.
Svahn’s difficulties began when he fell at the Ulricehamn World Cup 2021. Attempts were made to rehabilitate the shoulder injury, but the skier had to undergo surgery.
Times are still a difficult topic to talk about.
– I don’t think about those times anymore. The past is past. I focus on the present, where the competitions are also held, Svahn dodges.
The skiing star told Expressen that he even briefly considered becoming a cyclist. He acquired a competition license and joined the club. In the end, there was too much blood on the track.
– Skiing has always been number one for me. I knew I wanted to get back on the track after the injury. I have been very determined about it.
The Skiing World Cup will be held in Lahti from 1st to 3rd. March.