Earlier this week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the International Ski and Snowboard Federation's (FIS) decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian skiers.
Earlier this fall, Linn Svahn told both Norwegian TV2 and Expressen that she might consider boycotting the Olympics if Russian skaters are on the starting line at the Olympics in Italy in February.
“Stand by what I said”
"If you ask me here and now, the answer is that I don't want to compete," Svahn told Expressen in early October.
On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that it has ruled in favor of Russia and Belarus in their appeals against the FIS decision. Individual athletes in the various FIS disciplines will be allowed to compete internationally if they meet the requirements for neutrality. This means that there can be Russian skaters in the Olympics.
I stand by what I said then. The reason I have been so clear about it and stressed that I think it is wrong to let the door open is because I think Fis should make the decision to close it. Which they did last fall, Svahn tells Viaplay.
She says she has been clear that she does not want to compete against Russian skaters when there is a war going on.
That was the reason for the suspension a couple of years ago and I think that should still apply, since Cas is tearing up the decision that Fis made, you know what I think.
Will you be competing if they show up?
Now the decision has been made by Cas and I will just do my best to be good, be in the Olympics and be strong.
Only Viaplay was allowed to interview Svahn in connection with the Swede's competitive comeback in Trondheim. The day after the CAS decision, the national team management announced that the 25-year-old is suffering from brain fatigue - sequelae of the concussion she suffered the day before the World Championships sprint in February this year.
For the sake of her well-being, Svahn does not do press conferences or interviews with writing journalists, for example.
“Feeling good”
I feel good, but step one is just to come in and compete with everything that means. I still have some scars from it, Svahn tells Viaplay.
The star missed both the Swedish premiere in Gällivare and the World Cup premiere in Ruka last weekend due to illness, but now took third place in the sprint in Trondheim behind Johanna Hagström and Emma Ribom.
It's fun to be back, says Linn Svahn.
The International Olympic Committee, IOC, sets the following requirements to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Olympics under a neutral flag:
+ Athletes who actively support the war against Ukraine are not allowed to participate.
+ Athletes who have contracts with the Russian or Belarusian military or with national security agencies are not allowed to participate.
+ All anti-doping requirements that apply before and during the Milano-Cortina Olympics must be met
Russian and Belarusian skiers have been excluded from international competition since Russia started its war of invasion in Ukraine in 2022.
