Frida Karlsson's voice trembles when she talks about how the 64-year-old man suddenly appeared outside her apartment door in Östersund one day in August last year.
I got really stressed and scared too, says the 25-year-old when she is heard via link during the trial in Ångermanland District Court in Härnösand.
He starts talking and I'm quick to take out my cross-country skis from the car and take off quickly.
"Felt unsafe"
This is the third time in just over three months that the man – who lives in a town in central Sweden – has sought out the ski star. She felt great discomfort even during the two previous incidents in Stockholm and Sollefteå, but after the incident in Östersund, she has sought a new residence.
I also felt unsafe at home. I'm a fairly trusting person, but after that, I started checking over my shoulder.
The feeling of insecurity remains, even though the man has been detained since February 21 this year.
Just yesterday, my window was open. And I got scared right away and called a friend.
The 64-year-old man is charged with unlawful harassment of Karlsson from October 2023 to February 2025. He is alleged to have called her over 200 times, left numerous voice messages, and sent masses of text messages.
Karlsson has never responded to his contact attempts – most of which she has never seen since she blocked his number.
Demanding imprisonment
The man claims that the star responded to him by posting pictures on her Instagram account. He is convinced that he had a romantic relationship with the cross-country skier. On his phone, there were over 7,300 pictures, most of which depict Frida Karlsson.
I've sent texts where it's been quiet. Then she's posted a picture and communicated that way, says the 64-year-old.
When he is questioned via link, Frida Karlsson leaves the room she was sitting in and is no longer visible on the TV screen. The man gets into several discussions with both his defense attorney Thomas Bodström and the presiding judge.
Can you ask a little nicer questions? he says, upset.
Prosecutor Christina Edlund Nilsson is demanding at least six months' imprisonment for the man.
The defendant denies any wrongdoing and disputes the claim for damages to Frida Karlsson of 50,000 kronor. His defense attorney believes the man should be acquitted, but if he is convicted, the sentence should be suspended.
After the hearing, the court decided that the 64-year-old should be released pending the verdict, which will be announced on April 9.
A 64-year-old man is charged with unlawful harassment of cross-country skiing star Frida Karlsson between October 22, 2023, and February 21, 2025.
He is alleged to have called Karlsson 207 times, left numerous voice messages, and sent masses of text messages.
In his mobile phone, over 7,000 pictures, almost all of which are of Karlsson, have been found. He obtained the pictures through various Instagram accounts.
On three occasions in 2024, the man sought out Frida Karlsson at locations where she was present. The first time was during a charity race in Stockholm in May, the second time during a training session in Sollefteå in June, and the third time outside Frida Karlsson's residence in Östersund in August.
The man has been banned from contacting Karlsson since November 16, 2024, but he has broken the ban several times.
He is also alleged to have bought a round-trip ticket to the Spanish island of Tenerife, where the skiing star was staying at a longer training camp in the fall of 2024. The man never used his ticket.
In mid-February this year, he sent a handwritten letter on four pages to the skiing star. It was addressed to Karlsson's parents.
The trial against the man was held on Wednesday in Ångermanland District Court in Härnösand.
Neither Frida Karlsson nor the defendant was present in the courtroom – they were heard via link. Karlsson's mother and a police officer also testified.
The man denies any wrongdoing. The verdict will be announced on April 9.
Sources: The indictment, the preliminary investigation, and the trial.
