Swedish star Calle Halfvarsson enters the season with his sights set on World Championships success and a strong belief in his abilities. Despite external pressure and the challenges of life as a father of young children, he remains motivated to compete against the world’s elite and sets the bar high.

Calle Halfvarsson is now heading into the 2024/2025 season with a clear focus on World Championships, confident in his training and capacity. Last season, he didn’t achieve any podium finishes in the World Cup but secured several top 10 results. Two seasons ago, however, he managed six podium finishes. Halfvarsson is well aware of the external pressure from media and fans—or perhaps, we should say, non-fans?

“There are surely those who have high hopes. And there are those who probably think I won’t achieve anything,” Halfvarsson says to ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langd.se, adding:

“I have my haters too, who think I should quit and do something else. Get a job.”

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“I’m Going for Gold”

Calle has three individual World Cup victories, the most recent in 2016. He also has a team sprint win with Jonna Sundling during the Falun Ski Games and a mixed relay victory alongside Moa Ilar, Edvin Anger, and Jonna Sundling. Halfvarsson firmly believes in his skills and potential.

“I set the bar high. And I wouldn’t keep skiing if I didn’t know I could set the bar high either. I’m going for gold at the (World) Championships, and I want to win. I also want to win World Cup races,” says the 35-year-old.

“I still feel like I have it in me. If I didn’t feel that I wouldn’t keep skiing,” emphasizes Halfvarsson.

Despite various stories circulating about his plans for life after skiing, he is determined about his future and motivated to compete in ski races.

“One can have high expectations of me, but above all, I will have high expectations of myself.”

What drives and motivates you?

“It’s that—I know I can still perform and compete with the best in the world,” Calle says.

And the World Championships is the main goal?

“Yes.”

The Achilles’ Heel

Calle is now 35 and a father of two. While neither of his children currently attends preschool, the risk of childhood illnesses and getting infected is a clear concern.

“That has been my Achilles’ heel throughout my career—that I get sick too often, especially at the wrong times. And that throws a wrench in the works when it happens.”

“With each passing year, you think about it a little more. Hopefully, you learn from the things you feel you’ve done wrong or been a bit careless about in the past.”

The Role of a Family Man

Calle remains optimistic about the training he’s completed ahead of the World Championships in Trondheim. Despite the increased responsibilities at home with two young children, Halfvarsson feels that his training conditions have been nearly optimal.

“So far, it’s gone really well. Of course, there’s still training to be done. I’ll keep training, but automatically, the volume decreases when the competitions begin.”

The 35-year-old from Sågmyra admits, however, that life as a family man significantly impacts his training routine.

“I train quite a bit in the mornings. Often, the afternoon training suffers because of family life. So, I make sure to do a good job in the morning, so the work is done when I get back home to the family.”

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