The blue and yellow ladies won a grand slam at the World Ski Championships in Trondheim last winter. Ebba Andersson won double individual gold by winning the skiathlon and the 10-kilometer classic. Jonna Sundling took home the World Cup gold in the sprint and Frida Karlsson won the 5-kilometer.
The trio also won the relay together with Emma Ribom and Sundling won gold in the sprint relay together with Maja Dahlqvist.
“A team effort”
A unique Swedish achievement in the ski tracks that can give a unique Bragdguld.
It could open the way to rewarding the entire women's national team for six out of six possible golds in Norway. That would be unique. But if it's ever going to happen, it's now. Otherwise, you have to pick out one person or achievement - should you take Ebba for two individual golds or just the relay team? says Anders Lindblad, sports columnist at Svenska Dagbladet and secretary of the Merit Committee, to TT.
Who or who will receive the magazine's prestigious award will be revealed on Tuesday, December 2. Frida Karlsson is happy to share the award with her teammates on the cross-country team rather than receive it herself for the gold medal in the five-mile race.
It's so hard to pick out an individual performance from that world championship. We had unique performances in every race and it's really a team effort. Individual performances are also a kind of result of the team's work on the road, says Karlsson.
In what way is it expressed?
You have to push each other. There's such competition now that you can't relax. Because then someone will come and take your place.
The hunger to develop is there all the time and there is a constant exchange of knowledge within the national team, says Karlsson.
"Only world champion passes"
We are inspired by each other. And you have a yardstick close to you all the time, says the 26-year-old.
There is always someone on the team who has a really good day at a joint training session.
And the level is the best in the world. So someone will have that day and then you raise yourself throughout that session to the person who shows the way in that particular session. We only do world champion sessions all the time, says Frida Karlsson.
Gold – Jonna Sundling, sprint.
Gold – Ebba Andersson, skiathlon.
Gold – Ebba Andersson, 10 kilometers classic.
Gold – sprint relay (Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist)
Gold – relay (Emma Ribom, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling).
Gold – Frida Karlsson, 50 kilometer freestyle.
Bronze – Jonna Sundling, skiathlon.
Bronze – Frida Karlsson, 10 kilometers classic.
2024 – Armand Duplantis, athletics
2023 – Daniel Ståhl, athletics
2022 – Nils van der Poel, skating
2021 – Swedish national show jumping team, equestrian (Malin Baryard Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson)
2020 – Armand Duplantis, athletics
2019 – Tove Alexandersson, orienteering
2018 – Hanna Öberg, biathlon
2017 – Sarah Sjöström, swimming
2016 – Henrik Stenson, golf
2015 – Sarah Sjöström, swimming
Footnote: An athlete can receive the Gold Medal of Merit a maximum of two times during their career.
