The brother is already a phenomenon. Now the younger sister is following in his footsteps, and all signs indicate that Vera Myhlback will be just as challenging to handle.

Alvar Myhlback is just 20 years old, but he has been a thorn in the side of the senior elite for several years. Until now, his younger sister has been able to hide in the shadow of her brother’s success. But that is about to change.

As she enters her second junior season, she is already beating Olympic and World Championship stars, and last weekend, the 17-year-old won the entire Swedish senior cup. She also secured second place in the sprint final, only beaten by Johanna Hagström.

“Of course it’s a bit cool,” Vera Myhlback told Expressen after her achievement.

Also Read: Five Swedish talents to watch this winter

Aukland impressed

The young Swedish skier from Bjursås near Falun is considered one of Sweden’s biggest young talents, having impressed Jørgen and Anders Aukland since she was 15.

This was during a talent camp at Gardermoen. She was the youngest there but took home the largest scholarship. The Aukland brothers particularly noted her competitive mindset and capacity.

“The level was high for everyone. But what Vera Myhlback delivered,” Aukland told Langrenn.com at the time.

Two years later, she is beating both Olympic and World Championship stars. Her competitors are left in awe.

“Vera is incredibly good. It’s impressive how she skis. Let’s just hope it continues like this, so she can have a long and successful career,” said Moa Ilar.

She finished second in the overall World Cup last winter and is now being outperformed by the 17-year-old.

Sweden’s national team coach is thrilled.

“Vera is really awesome. The more fast skiers we have on the women’s side, the happier I am, regardless of age,” Johan Granath told Expressen after her sprint achievement at Lugnet and her sensational victory in the senior cup.

The story continues below.

Aiming for the World Championships

Vera Myhlback has only one goal.

“I just want to ski as fast as possible,” she told Langrenn.com after her sprint victory against the stars in Trysil this summer.

Then she pauses for a moment.

“And I hope to maybe qualify for the junior World Championships. That would mean a lot. It would be really cool.”

If she is selected, she believes that sprinting could be her strongest event.

At the same time, Vera Myhlback, like her brother, is deeply involved in long-distance skiing, and last year she signed a professional contract with the same team as Alvar, at just 16 years old.

Read More: The Youth Team — Pro Team presentation Season XVIII 

Double ambitions

The plan is to pursue both long-distance and all-round skiing. However, the Myhlback siblings’ interpretation of “double ambition” has little to do with prioritization in the traditional sense.

“No, I don’t differentiate between the two. I will compete in everything I can from both, as long as it doesn’t clash on the same weekend,” Vera Myhlback said.

She sees combining the two as uncomplicated.

How will you combine your World Championship ambitions with your commitment to the Pro Team?

“I haven’t thought much about it. The plan is to do everything I think fits into the calendar, and what works best, as long as it doesn’t clash on the same weekend.”

When asked how she has become so good, she has a simple answer: She does as much as Alvar does.

Foundation laid in Trysil

Many of Vera Myhlback’s early miles were laid down in Trysil. The family lived there for four years until she was 12. Her older brother Alvar, who was 11 when they moved to Trysil, has previously shared his thoughts with Langrenn.com:

“Everything changed when we moved to Trysil. When I was 12, I trained extremely hard for my age. But there wasn’t much else to do there except ski,” he said, adding.

“Those were wonderful years. I felt very good in Trysil, and it is like my second home. Even if it isn’t optimal for becoming a good skier, it is very close.”

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