School has already started for most students, but that will have to wait for Malin Hallin. Instead of math and physics classes, she will be playing in the European Championship.
It's very nervous and tense, but also, in a positive way, she says ahead of Friday's premiere against Montenegro in Gothenburg.
She is expected to miss three weeks of her final year at the National Sports High School in Falköping, where stars such as beach volleyball player and recent European Championship gold medallist Elmer Andersson and Olympic gold medallist Jonatan Hellvig have studied.
This is more fun, says Malin Hallin.
Will play with the role models
Just over five years ago, Hallin attended her first training session in the sport at the then newly founded Borgen VK. Four years ago, she watched her first international match, with sisters Isabelle and Anna Haak.
I thought, "wow, God, how cool," but at the same time I was of course hoping for it, says Malin Hallin about the European Championship spot.
Superstar Isabelle Haak made her debut in the national team at the age of 14, at a time before volleyball had grown stronger in Sweden.
The European Championship is the first that Sweden is hosting on the women's side.
Now it's the European Championship on home soil, a little bigger than the European Championship qualifiers I played in when I started. It's still a pretty big deal to be part of your first summer, says Haak about Hallin's debut and adds:
It might be a little scary at first, but Malin has really gotten into it and is developing every day.
“Made my time here much easier”
Malin Hallin took the opportunity to ask Haak and other experienced teammates about life as a foreign professional and about national team training.
"It means a lot. If I wonder about something, I don't have to be alone in it. It has made my time here much easier," says Hallin.
She is one of four players who will make their debut when the championship begins against Montenegro.
As a team, I feel that we are ready, then you yourself feel that there are things to work on, says Malin Hallin.
Sweden's group stage takes place from 21–27 August at Scandinavium in Gothenburg. All matches will be broadcast on SVT/SVT Play.
Friday, August 21: Montenegro, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 22: Slovakia, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 23: Italy, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25: Croatia, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 27: France, 7:00 p.m.
