Superstar Tove Alexandersson is abstaining from the rest of the orienteering season to focus on ski mountaineering in an attempt to reach the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina next year. Then the event will be part of the Olympic Games program for the first time.
The squad for the upcoming sprint European Championship includes a former top name. Helena Bergman, who was named Jansson before she married orienteering star Gustav Bergman, is making a comeback after nearly seven years of absence.
"Helena was the third best Swede at the SM at the weekend. I hope this creates motivation for her to compete more in the future. We know what high level she has", says national team captain Håkan Carlsson in a press release.
Bergman has, among other things, 18 World Championship medals and three European Championship golds on her merit list. She has just come back after a serious injury she sustained in one leg during Tiomila in early May.
She was hospitalized for almost two weeks and had to go through four operations, said husband Gustav Bergman during a press conference before the World Championship this spring, according to the Swedish Orienteering Federation.
Gustav Bergman is not selected for the European Championship himself.
"Gustav has been struggling a bit with form lately and doesn't feel quite in shape", says Håkan Carlsson.
Emil Svensk is also missing.
"Emil was third in the sprint World Championship last year but it's a bit the same for him as for Tove. He doesn't want to make a sprint effort this autumn".
The sprint European Championship will be held in Hasselt, Belgium, 27-31 August.
Fact: The squad for the sprint European Championship in orienteering
TT
Women: Eleonora Alinder, Göteborg-Majorna OK, Helena Bergman, OK Ravinen, Emma Bjessmo, IFK Lidingö SOK, Sanna Fasth, IFK Göteborg Orientering, Tilda Johansson, Bäkkelagets SK/OK Orion, Hanna Lundberg, OK Renen, Alva Sonesson, Falköpings AIK OK, Elsa Sonesson, do, Frida Vikström, Sundsvalls OK, Vilma von Krusenstierna, OK Kåre.
Men: Max-Peter Bejmer, Malungs OK Skogsmårdarna, Axel Granqvist, OK Ravinen, Jonatan Gustafsson, KFUM Örebro, August Mollén, OK Denseln, Valter Pettersson, OK Tisaren, Martin Regborn, Hagaby GoIF, Gustav Runefors, Farum-Tisvilde OK/Växjö OK, Viktor Svensk, Stora Tuna OK, Isac von Krusenstierna, OK Kåre.
