After two years on the elite national team, the 28-year-old chooses to go private in his pursuit of the 2026 Olympics. One of the main reasons: he wants to move and do “unconventional” training sessions.

Swedish biathlete Emil Nykvist has decided to move to Torsby.

And it is precisely these relocation plans that largely explain Nykvist’s unexpected exit from the national team this spring. The Swedish biathlon team requires athletes to live in Östersund. But that doesn’t fit with Nykvist’s plans. So, this spring, he chose to break with the national team and is now training privately in Torsby.

“We have the ski tunnel there, and Hovfjället and Tossebergsklätten nearby – the best hills in Sweden,” says Nykvist, and adds:
“But above all, it’s the climate. There, it’s actually summer in the summer.”

Passionate about “unconventional” sessions

The biathlete is also clear that he wants to prioritize different types of training than what the national team typically prescribes. He’s happy to do longer sessions and use other movement patterns.

“I’m passionate about these ‘unconventional’ sessions – going long and far, creating adventure sessions that don’t fit into a standard plan,” Nykvist told SVT, and continues:
“And I want to take part in running races. I think it’s super cool, and I believe it makes me a better skier if I wear a bib number in the summer, too.”

Also Read – Nykvist after the decision: “Nice to get a bit more freedom”

Tempted by long-distance skiing

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy remain the main goal for the 28-year-old. But last fall, Nykvist revealed to Langd.se that he was open to exploring more long-distance skiing, and even signed a contract with the Swedish Ski Classics Ori Team, Team GS8. However, he kept those plans secret from the national team leadership.

In April, Nykvist made his Ski Classics debut with a 28th-place finish at Lofsdalen Epic.

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