After Sunday's 50-kilometer race in free style, where Frida Karlsson sprinted past the Norwegians Heidi Weng and Therese Johaug for the gold, she called Linn Svahn. The national team colleague who was forced to leave the World Championship before it even started after crashing during training and suffering a concussion.
She cried. And then I started crying. It became very strong. She said "We did it!". I still got to do a little for her today too, says Frida Karlsson.
When she finally arrives at the interview area, a couple of hours have passed since the finish. A lot needs to be done when you've finished a World Championship by taking your first individual championship gold. It needs to be celebrated, cried about, and photographed with the Swedish crown princess.
"The toughest five-mile in history"
Now the audience has gone home, the World Championship arena in Trondheim is being dismantled. Left standing is a happy 25-year-old.
This means a lot. It feels like I've been struggling a lot during this World Championship, with both body and mind, says Frida Karlsson.
Yet, she didn't feel any pressure before the five-mile race, the first on the women's side in a World Championship.
To be honest, I went in with the lowest expectations today. Because I think I can count my skate interval passes on snow on one hand. So, to succeed today feels very unexpected and incredibly good.
It was a special 50-kilometer race. The extremely loose snow made it difficult to ski and several skiers fell. Jonna Sundling fell early, but still finished fifth in the end.
Ebba Andersson fell twice. She was fighting for medals until the very end, but fell in the last uphill and finished fourth.
This is maybe the toughest five-mile in history, says Frida Karlsson.
I think everyone is fighting a mental battle with themselves today, and I felt strong in my head, which tied it all together.
Injury troubles
Sweden took all six gold medals on the women's side. For Frida Karlsson, it was her third medal in the championship after the Swedish gold in the relay and the bronze on the 10-kilometer classical.
Early on, it was clear that four skiers would be fighting for it. Karlsson, Andersson, Johaug, and Weng were lurking and watching each other the whole way.
A final push up the last hill was decisive. The small lead was enough for Karlsson to get a golden finish to the World Championship.
It means extra much considering how the winter has been. Karlsson still has problems with the foot injury that forced her to alternative training in the fall, and it's unclear if she'll be competing this season.
This shows that hard work pays off. We've put in many hours of rehab. And just today, it's worth it.
