It seemed impossible. Then Jonna Sundling entered the World Championship relay, and made the impossible happen.
37.2 seconds was quickly caught up, and after a brief "rest" after she had caught up, she could finally sprint home the relay gold to Sweden. This means she equals Gunde Svan among the Swedish skiers who have the most World Championship golds (seven).
The monster performance was praised by both experts and trainers and teammates.
I'm completely exhausted. I've never experienced anything worse. Despair, hope, and then Jonna's monster catch-up. It's only her who can do it when she decides to, says women's coach Stefan Thomson to Radiosporten.
"Absolutely the most impressive I've seen"
Thomson compared it to Charlotte Kalla's classic final stretch in the 2014 Olympic Games. Kalla then caught up 26 seconds when Sweden took gold.
The question is if this wasn't even worse. It was completely enormous.
Even Viaplay's expert Johan Olsson was speechless after the bravura performance.
We have witnessed a Swedish sports classic. Jonna Sundling's final stretch is perhaps among the absolutely most impressive I've seen during my time following cross-country skiing – and that's for decades.
Tears flowed
When Viaplay interviewed women's coach Andreas Domeij, tears flowed, both of relief and happiness.
This is insanely crazy, you know. This is sports at its best.
National team manager Anders Byström came with an appeal in the midst of the celebration:
Now that the bravura jury is in place, it's time to dig up the gold for Jonna Sundling. Crazy, he says to Radiosporten.
7 World Championship golds: Gunde Svan, Jonna Sundling.
6 World Championship golds: Ebba Andersson.
4 World Championship golds: Torgny Mogren, Sixten Jernberg.
3 World Championship golds: Charlotte Kalla, Maja Dahlqvist, Per Elofsson, Thomas Wassberg, Nils-Joel Englund.
2 World Championship golds: Stina Nilsson, Emma Ribom, Frida Karlsson, Johan Olsson, Sven-Åke Lundbäck, Thomas Magnusson, Assar Rönnlund, Sture Grahn, Karl-Erik Åström, Sven Utterström, John Lindgren.
