The news hit like a bombshell. It could have ended an entire career. “I can hardly think about it.”

“I just thought, why should I keep doing this? No, I’m done,” says the Swedish ski star Emma Ribom to Expressen.

Emma Ribom has just returned from six weeks in the USA, where she trained with American national team star JC Schoonmaker. The two, who have been in a relationship for several years, spent three weeks in Alaska and three weeks at altitude in Utah. The 28-year-old from Kalix has trained exactly how she wanted, and even had a visit from her father, who is also a coach, for ten days.

A summer with her own training plan has provided new motivation after two grueling seasons. The World Championships in Trondheim did not turn out to be the celebration she had dreamed of, and the Winter Olympics in Italy were a significant disappointment.

“I can hardly think about it,” she says in the podcast Daily.

Surreal

Those who watched cross-country skiing during the Olympics this winter likely remember the absurd situation Ribom found herself in. The sprint star was dropped from the final spot on the sprint team in favor of Johanna Hagström.

Instead, Ribom was set to compete in the 10-kilometer freestyle and the 50-kilometer race. The Olympic dream she had carried for nearly ten years was ripped away from her.

“It had been the big goal of my entire skiing career. A classic Olympic sprint in Val di Fiemme. That was where it was supposed to happen. That was what it was all about,” says the 28-year-old.

Ribom will never forget the day she learned she was dropped from the sprint. Her first thought was to retire. But she remembers even better the day of the competition itself.

“It was so incredibly surreal. This was supposed to be my day, but it really wasn’t. I could see the dream disappearing right in front of me. And it was very tough to handle,” says Ribom.

The story continues below.

Thoughts running wild

After being dropped, Ribom has done a lot of soul-searching.

“There have been a lot of ‘what if’ thoughts. What if I hadn’t been disqualified in the season opener? What if I hadn’t gotten sick during the Tour de Ski? Two classic sprinters just disappeared,” she says.

“It felt like I didn’t get a fair chance because so much didn’t go my way.”

Instead, the sprint star competed in the 50-kilometer race on the last day of the Olympics, where she finished tenth. After crossing the finish line, emotions flooded in. She gave interview after interview while tears streamed down her face.

“I gave that 50-kilometer every drop of energy I had left, and afterwards I was completely finished,” she recounts.

What emotions were bubbling over in you at that moment?

“Mostly a relief that the Olympics were over. That I would finally get to go home.”

Changing nations

Sweden has long been dominant in women’s international cross-country skiing, especially in sprinting. Ribom certainly sees the advantage of having so many strong competitors around her. But she is also honest that it’s not always just a privilege. She has often wished she could switch nations.

“During the Olympics this year, I absolutely thought that way. It was like, ‘can I become an American?’”

Now, Emma Ribom has dismissed that thought.

“Today, I absolutely would not switch (nations). I believe these girls are a big part of why I have come as far as I have, and I am humble about that,” she says.

The fact that the Swedish women won all the gold medals at the World Championships in Trondheim has given them a significant advantage for this winter’s home World Championships: As title defenders, Sweden can field five competitors instead of four in all events.

The World Cup kicks off in Ruka on November 27, marking the first opportunity to compete for a spot on the team for the World Championships in Falun in February.

Read More: FIS unveils 2026/2027 cross-country skiing World Cup calendar

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentary.

When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round. 

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER