Until the summer of 2022, her name was Moa Olsson and she was a skilled national team skier. Then she got married, changed her last name and started climbing the leaderboards. But despite occasional top performances, it is only this winter that Moa Ilar has really made a name for herself.
Ahead of this weekend's World Cup competitions in Oberhof, Germany, she is second in the overall standings.
"This is what I have been longing for," says Ilar.
Can you point to something specific that has made you take this step?
The answer comes quickly:
"Better upper-body strength."
"Has a very high capacity"
Moa Ilar's rise comes fittingly during an Olympic season. The 28-year-old has five podium finishes in the World Cup so far and was largely responsible for a brilliant performance in the Tour de Ski around the turn of the year. Only the sixth and final stage, a 420-meter climb up Alpe Cermis, kept her from a podium finish overall.
"It's sad that so much will be decided on that hill. It's brutally decisive."
"But I'm really proud and happy and satisfied with the tour. I'm doing five fantastic races and showing that I have a very high capacity."
In recent years, two skiers in particular, Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson, have been Sweden's hopes in the distance races. But when the Olympic medals are decided in Val di Fiemme next month, Moa Ilar will also be among the favorites.
Only behind Diggins
Ahead of this weekend's World Cup competitions in Oberhof, she is second in the overall standings, behind Jessie Diggins from the USA. No Swedish female skier has ever won the overall World Cup.
"Incredibly impressive," says Ebba Andersson about Ilar.
"And not just in terms of results. I just think you can see it visually when she skis and how she approaches the races. It's like a greater sense of security and I feel like she has a stability in a different way than before."
The confidence comes from Ilar.
"I feel like I'm a completely different skier. I'm much better at focusing on what I'm doing out there on the trail."
With success comes increased attention. It doesn't bother her, but she makes an effort not to let it go to her head.
"I still feel quite experienced in the team, so I think I can keep my feet on the ground. It's demanding to have so much attention - something the others have had to deal with a lot in the past. Of course I'm enjoying the fact that things are going well."
Lasse Mannheimer/TT
Facts: Moa Ilar
TT
Born: July 6, 1997 (age 28), in Järna in Vansbro municipality.
Club: Falun-Borlänge SK.
World Cup debut: January 26, 2019.
First individual World Cup victory: November 26, 2023, in Ruka (20 km mass start, freestyle)
Main achievements: Two individual World Cup victories, three second places and three third places.
Current: Second in the overall World Cup.
Thirteen individual World Cup races remain in the 2025–26 season.
The top 50 receive points in each race, in a descending scale where first place receives 100 points and the person finishing in 50th place receives 1 point.
Bonus points are also awarded in mass starts and sprints.
The score:
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Jessie Diggins, USA: 1,216 points.
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Moa Ilar, Sweden: 1,032.
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Ebba Andersson, Sweden: 803.
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Heidi Weng, Norway: 774.
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Maja Dahlqvist, Sweden: 765.
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Teresa Stadlober, Austria: 716.
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Jasmi Joensuu, Finland: 715.
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Karoline Simpson-Larsen, Norway: 691.
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Johanna Matintalo, Finland: 611.
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Julie Bjervig Drivenes, Norway: 599.
