Sandra Näslund, 28, is at the Swedish Olympic Committee's (SOK) camp for winter athletes. She is one of several Olympic medalists from Beijing 2022 who due to injuries are fighting against time to get in top form for the Olympic Games next year in Italy.
Näslund got a crack in her leg in her comeback competition in December – after a knee injury in January 2024.
The leg feels relatively good and I've started training somewhat together with the others in the team and it feels fun, says Näslund.
"No, I don't care about this"
She was not equally happy and satisfied with life in Val Thorens in December when she realized she would miss another competition season.
There were a few days when you went through a lot of feelings and thoughts. My first thought was "no, I don't care about this, I don't have the energy for it anymore, I'll do something else", says she.
Then I changed my mind pretty quickly when I saw the others compete and realized that it's really fun to ski cross.
She admits that the injuries have likely prolonged her career.
Absolutely. A few years ago, I thought that the Olympic Games 2026 would probably be my last, but now when I've missed two seasons, I don't feel satisfied yet. I feel that I can probably do a few more seasons, says Näslund.
The Olympic gold medalist from Beijing 2022 says that she hopes to be on snow in August. She feels a certain anxiety about not being able to catch up with the training before the competition starts.
Absolutely, there is an anxiety, that's how it is when you're injured. But I know that I have a long summer ahead of me and it's getting better all the time.
Hopes to dominate again
Before she got injured in January last year, Sandra Näslund had totally dominated in ski cross for several years, winning 19 competitions in a row, winning the total World Cup four times, taking four World Championship golds and Olympic gold in 2022.
She hopes to be able to come back and dominate again.
It's clear that it's very optimistic to think that I'll come back and be as superior as I was in the 2023 season. But it's clear that that's where I want to be, that's what I'm working for every day, that's my hope, says Näslund.
If I can come back to 100 percent and be able to ski exactly as I want, I don't think there's much that can stop me from there.
+ Sandra Näslund, gold in ski cross, crack in the leg in December 2024.
+ Walter Wallberg, gold in mogul, operation in the shoulder in March.
+ Linn Gestblom, gold in relay in biathlon, operation in the shoulder in February 2024.
+ Jesper Tjäder, silver in slopestyle in freeski, cruciate ligament injury in February.
+ Henrik Harlaut, bronze in big air in freeski, hip injury in August 2024.
