Last winter, the Swedish cross-country skier Emil Danielsson won a medal in the sprint at the U23 World Championships. For the upcoming season, he is divided on whether to compete in the U23 World Championships in Planica.

“Ideally, I want to race the World Cup in Canada at the same time,” says Emil Danielsson to Langd.se.

Last week, several Swedish sprinters (both from the national team and Team Bauhaus) were in Meråker, Norway, for a training camp.

“I think this separation with some camps focusing on sprinting is very good. Before midsummer, we had a camp with the whole team in Åre; during that part of the training period, it was more about focusing on quantity. During this part of the year, it suits us sprinters well to be on low altitude and run more speed sessions, as it is not possible in the same way at altitude,” says Emil Danielsson during the national team’s press conference in Meråker.

How was your season last winter?

“I got a pretty good result in the World Cup premiere in Ruka (22nd in the prologue). Then, it was tough for a period, especially with bad prologues. But then I got a really good sprint and a medal at the U23 World Championships in Whistler (Canada), which was the season’s highlight. And I finished the World Cup season with a good prologue in Lahti (9th). That was valuable for the summer training,” says Danielsson.

What is the goal for the upcoming season?

“The main focus is on sprinting. That’s what I’m best at, and my first goal is to make it to the semifinals for the first time. And if you’re there, it can be enough for the final. The goal for the season is to take another step. Then there is a national group with extra places for Swedish skiers for the competitions in Gällivare and Östersund, so it would be nice to take place in the distance there,” says Danielsson.

Emil Danielsson, with Högbo as his ski club, will make his last season as a U23 skier during the winter. This winter’s U23 World Championships will take place in Planica, Slovenia (the same place as last winter’s World Championships).

At the moment, Danielsson is unsure about whether he wants to race in this winter’s U23 World Championships:

“Last winter’s medal at the U23 World Championships was very nice. The day before, my brother (Elias) won a medal; George Ersson and I, with whom I train a lot, both managed to win a medal in the sprint. But most of all, I want to race the World Cup in Canada, which is taking place a few days after the U23 World Championships,” concludes Danielsson.

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