Mona Brorsson has quit, Stina Nilsson has gone back to cross-country skiing and Linn Gestblom is missing the entire season due to a shoulder injury.
Instead, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg and Ella Halvarsson have joined the A-team. And junior Sara Andersson has been allowed to participate more this year. All are participating in the World Cup premiere in Kontiolahti, where Halvarsson has made a big success – she won the single mixed relay together with Sebastian Samuelsson and followed up with a second place in Wednesday's short distance.
Sara Andersson was part of the winning women's relay team.
Anna-Karin Heijdenberg had to wait until the distance race, where she finished 14th.
The experienced athletes think that it has been only positive with so many new members in the team.
It becomes a new dynamic. They have come in and been hungry and motivated, and you see how they develop all the time. It has been inspiring for me too, to see them take steps, says Hanna Öberg.
Fearless and offensive
Hanna Öberg has been in the national team for a long time, made her World Cup debut in 2016. Anna Magnusson was a step ahead and debuted in 2015.
She says that there is a big difference in the national team compared to when she joined.
Then we were a completely new gang and no one was in the world elite. Now we have some who are there, and it must be inspiring for the new ones, because if they keep up with the training, they know they are very good, says Magnusson.
Both Hanna Öberg and Anna Magnusson think that the new members have fit in well with the group and take initiative during training.
They have been so incredibly fearless, they are offensive in training. It's fun to see, says Magnusson.
I've felt that before too, says Hanna Öberg with a laugh and nods towards little sister Elvira.
For me, it's just super great that the competition in the team becomes tougher. You really have to be on your toes not to fall behind.
"Have a very good team"
Sara Andersson, 21, was very disappointed after her relay leg on Sunday, when she was forced to take a penalty round. But she wasn't worried that the others in the team would blame her if it didn't go well.
They are very kind and understand that it's not easy. Lucky to have very good teammates, she says.
I think we are a very good gang and we have had a lot of use for each other this year.
Friday: Men, sprint, 10 km (16.20).
Saturday: Women, sprint, 7.5 km (17.10).
Sunday: Mass start, men, 15 km (14.30), women, 12.5 km (17.10).
All races are broadcast on SVT.
