In addition to international qualifying limits, the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) also has requirements for athletes to compete in the Olympics in Italy in February. These include “proven capacity to finish in the top twelve at the Olympics” and “form that shows it is current, not just historical.”
Felix Monsén and Kristoffer Jakobsen are a bit further away.
"They have had a tough start to the season," says Fredrik Joulamo, SOK's sports director and squad manager.
"We know that there is ability among the Swedish men's alpine skiers, but their form and performance have so far not been in line with what we require."
"Still hoping"
Speed skier Monsén has competed in seven World Cup races and finished in 30th place at best. Jakobsen, in slalom, has no placings yet.
The duo's achievements mean that Sweden's Olympic squad could be without men's alpine skiers.
"I think that would be really sad, and I think they would feel the same way. We want to send men's alpine skiers - but we also have a mission, and it is based on our assessment that the ability to finish in the top twelve exists. But there are still chances. We know there is ability," says Joulamo, referring primarily to Jakobsen's World Cup slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, on Sunday.
Can someone else be selected according to the future criterion?
"At present, we have assessed that we do not have any such skiers."
Injuries in freestyle
The Swedish Olympic squad, which currently consists of 74 participants, also has a gap when it comes to freestyle. A void that could very well become permanent after the Olympics.
"There have been an incredible number of injuries and problems there. At the moment, no one has shown the form that would allow us to assess that they should be selected," says Fredrik Joulamo.
So it could be empty there too?
"We hope that won't happen."
In Beijing 2022, Jesper Tjäder and Henrik Harlaut won two of Sweden's 18 medals, bronze in slopestyle and big air respectively, but now the duo could miss the chance for more medals.
"Both have come back from injuries, and I know they are doing everything they can, everything in their power, to find that perfect shot."
Anders Wallin/TT
Facts: Future Olympic qualifiers
TT
January 12: Three Crowns Ladies.
January 20: Cross-country skiing.
January 21: Biathlon.
January 22: The final squad is presented.
Alpine skiing: Sara Hector, Anna Swenn Larsson, Cornelia Öhlund, Estelle Alphand.
Cross-country skiing: Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist, Moa Ilar, Johanna Hagström, Emma Ribom, Anton Grahn, Alvar Myhlback, William Poromaa, Edvin Anger, Gustaf Berglund, Truls Gisselman.
Moguls: Walter Wallberg, Filip Gravenfors, Rasmus Stegfeldt, Robin Olgård.
Ski cross: Sandra Näslund, Linnea Mobärg, David Mobärg, Erik Mobärg.
Biathlon: Elvira Öberg, Hanna Öberg, Anna Magnusson, Ella Halvarsson, Martin Ponsiluoma, Sebastian Samuelsson, Jesper Nelin, Viktor Brandt, Malte Stefansson.
Curling: Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren, Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Scharback, Johanna Heldin, Isabella Wranå.
Ice hockey: Filip Gustavsson, Jacob Markström, Jesper Wallstedt, Rasmus Andersson, Philip Broberg, Jonas Brodin, Rasmus Dahlin, Oliver Ekman Larsson, Gustav Forsling, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, Jesper Bratt, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Filip Forsberg, Pontus Holmberg, Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Landeskog, Elias Lindholm, William Nylander, Elias Pettersson, Rickard Rakell, Lucas Raymond, Alex Wennberg, Mika Zibanejad.
Ski jumping: Frida Westman.
Figure skating: Andreas Nordebäck, Nikolaj Majorov, Milla Ruud Reitan.
