Myhlback became the youngest winner of all time in Vasaloppet on Sunday. After the success, SVT's expert commentator took the opportunity to send a message to the Swedish national team management:
This guy, the national team management didn't think should participate in the Junior World Championship, they don't understand what cross-country skiing is about, said Blomquist during the broadcast, according to Aftonbladet.
Opens up for the Olympic Games
The criticism is directed at A-national team coach Anders Byström and Linda Danvind Malm, coach of the Swedish junior national team, who chose not to select Myhlback for the Junior World Championship earlier this year because he didn't participate in any of the qualifying competitions.
But Byström questions Blomquist's statement, as he responds to the criticism on site at the World Championship arena Granåsen in Trondheim just before the women's skiathlon during the ongoing World Championship.
Sport-wise, we have believed in Alvar all the time. We have even had him on A-national team camp last autumn, and it has been great fun to have him, so we have the competence to see it, says Byström.
He now hopes that Myhlback won't lock himself into the long-distance cup, so that Byström's national team can also benefit from the 18-year-old's talent. It's not impossible that he can become relevant already for the Olympic Games in Milano and Cortina next year, says the national team coach.
Now it wasn't possible to be here in Trondheim, but if he decides to train specifically for the Olympic Games, then all opportunities are open.
"Need these skiers"
And then there's a home World Championship in Falun 2027?
Exactly. On his home ground, he can even ski shuttle from Bjursås to Lugnet (the World Championship area) so it would be fantastic. We need these skiers who dare to train a lot, and he has really shown that he does. It should be fully reasonable that he is really on top 2027.
Anders Byström, on the other hand, has no great hopes of being able to lure Stina Nilsson back to the national team. Nilsson also had a successful Sunday when she won Vasaloppet in her debut.
Incredibly fun that she wins. But she has clearly said that she doesn't want to be part of this, and then it's not current. But she might get tempted again. It's always tempting with someone who has won Olympic and World Championship gold.
