The Swedish women’s cross-country skiing team is facing a rapidly diminishing roster as the Winter Olympics continue, impacting their medal chances and drawing criticism from within the Swedish skiing community. A series of illnesses have sidelined key athletes, leaving only Ebba Andersson and Emma Ribom available for Sunday’s final Olympic event.
The situation is a stark contrast to the success enjoyed by the Norwegian team, who secured gold in the women’s 4×7.5km relay on , finishing 50.9 seconds ahead of the Swedish team, who settled for silver. That race was marked by drama for the Swedes, particularly for Ebba Andersson, who crashed twice during her leg and was forced to continue with one ski for 30 seconds after losing the other. A ski technician attempting a replacement also fell in the slushy conditions.
Despite the chaotic circumstances, Jonna Sundling managed to anchor Sweden to a silver medal, passing Finland to secure second place, finishing over 23 seconds behind Norway. The U.S. Team, led by Jessie Diggins, finished fifth, 1:52.2 behind the victorious Norwegians.
However, the relay success has been overshadowed by the growing list of unavailable Swedish athletes. Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling are currently ill, while Johanna Hagström returned home last week. Linn Svahn, Moa Ilar and Maja Dahlqvist have also been ruled out in recent days. Dahlqvist had previously fallen ill during the Tour de Ski in December 2024, forcing her to withdraw from competition.
Veteran skier Anders Blomquist has been highly critical of the situation, stating, “It’s about doing the job on site, and it hasn’t been done this time.” He highlighted the importance of having a full team at the Olympics, an event that occurs only once every four years.
Ebba Andersson acknowledged the difficulties, saying, “It’s unfortunate. When we are such a strong nation as we are, there should be four skiers from the start, but now the situation is as We see, and I will try to make the most of the opportunity I have.”
The Norwegian cross-country skiing icon, Therese Johaug, now an expert commentator for NRK, expressed her sympathy for the Swedish team. “It’s very sad, they have trained hard to get here. Frida was a big favorite and in her best shape, it’s just sad,” she said. Johaug also noted the practical considerations, adding, “I would have raced with a sore throat, but you can’t race with a fever.”
Stefan Thomson, the Swedish women’s team coach, responded to the criticism regarding the lack of reserves, stating, “Absolutely, these are things we need to take with us. You always want to be able to have a full team at the Olympics. It happens only every four years, so of course it feels a little frustrating.”
Finland considered recalling Krista Pärmäkoski for the event, but a similar solution was not feasible for Sweden. Thomson explained that the latest illnesses occurred too close to the race for a replacement to be effectively brought in. “Not in this situation. The last two cases came in the last 24 hours, and it’s too late then.”
The Swedish men’s team also faced disappointment at these Olympics, finishing last in their relay event, prompting similar criticism from Blomquist. The contrast between the men’s and women’s performances underscores the challenges facing the Swedish team as a whole.
With a severely depleted squad, Sweden’s hopes for further medals at these Winter Olympics rest heavily on the shoulders of Andersson and Ribom in Sunday’s race. The circumstances highlight the unpredictable nature of international competition and the importance of depth and resilience in a demanding sport.
