During her 15-year career, Charlotte Kalla became one of Sweden's greatest athletes of all time. At that time, contact with the media was also a big part of her life.
Now she will instead be part of the media corps that follows the skaters in the role of Olympic expert in SVT.
"It will be great fun to be able to participate and follow an Olympics in a different way," says Kalla at a press conference.
“Stressful and annoying”
Looking back on her career and relationship with the media, Kalla describes a roller coaster ride.
"It has changed. It's really cool at the beginning of your career when you get to surprise yourself, and then you often surprise others too," she says.
However, towards the end of her career, the focus shifted to other things.
There you had to bite your tongue quite a few times when there was more focus on looking back and the question of when to stop came up. I found that stressful and annoying. I own that decision and right now I need to focus on the next race. Can we talk about that instead, says Kalla.
But with nine Olympic medals, 13 World Cup medals and the Tour de Ski victory in 2008, there were also moments when it was fun to talk things out.
It's been uplifting too, like when I was in the best shape of my life and got the chance to ride the Tour de Ski and, day after day, just laughing all the way from the finish line to the hotel room.
“Great understanding”
Kalla will not be in Italy during the Olympics, but will be part of SVT's winter studio in Stockholm. That solution was a big reason why she accepted.
My children are so young and my partner is self-employed. But the solution that came up was great.
As an expert, she wants to help broaden the picture of athletes.
It's great that you have a few years of distance from this narrow focus. But you absolutely have a great understanding of the riders who may have success at the beginning of the championship and that it means a lot, but then it's just the next race and the next race for the riders who have several distances, says Kalla.
The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina will be held February 6–22.
Born: July 22, 1987 (age 38) in Tärendö, Norrbotten County.
Olympic achievements: Three golds (2018, 2014 and 2010) and six silvers (three in 2018, two in 2014 and one in 2010). This makes her Sweden's top female Olympian.
Other achievements: Three World Cup gold medals, six World Cup silver medals, four World Cup bronze medals. In 2008 she won the Tour de Ski and the Jerring Prize. In total, there were 59 podium finishes in the World Cup, twelve of which were individual and relay victories. In 2014 she received the Gold Medal of Merit.
Current: TV expert for SVT during the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
SVT will broadcast the Olympics on TV and on SVT Play. HBO Max will also broadcast on its streaming service. Although TV4 does not own the rights, the channel will cover the cross-country skiing with its own expert.
Swedish TV:
Jacob Hård (commentator), Anders Blomquist, Charlotte Kalla, Anna Jönsson Haag and Mathias Fredriksson (experts).
HBO Max:
Jonas Karlsson (commentator).
TV4:
Anna Dyvik (expert).
More names may be added.
