She remembers exactly where she was and exactly what she thought when the news came that Falun had been awarded the World Championships. “It felt so far away,” says Ebba Andersson.

But now the World Championships are just around the corner. Ebba Andersson is one of the brightest stars, envisioning a festive atmosphere and planning to soak in every second.

“It’s so close now. You get butterflies in your stomach,” she says.

Knee Issues and adjusted training plan

A championship on Swedish snow has been a dream of hers since childhood. However, the knee problems she has faced intermittently throughout her career have impacted her preseason training. She has had to substitute some running with roller skiing and cycling, and has also focused more on strength training at the gym.

“The preseason has been good, but far from flawless,” summarizes Ebba Andersson according to Langd.se.

She emphasizes that the revised training plan does not mean a decrease in quality.

“It just means I have to take a different approach in my training to try to achieve the load that I believe I need.”

Dreaming of the 50km

Performances from previous championships have already secured her a spot in two of the events. At the World Championships in Trondheim, she won double gold in skiathlon and the 10-kilometer classic.

“But I want to compete in more events. I have had a vision from the start to ideally race in two more distances, preferably the 50km. That also gives me a chance to do something great at the World Championships.”

Gold medals are a clear goal for the ski star, who has won a total of four individual World Championship golds and one individual Olympic gold, along with numerous other World and Olympic medals, both individually and in relays. In total, she has secured 17 international medals over the years.

Challenging courses

She is well acquainted with the terrain in Falun and believes it suits her.

“I haven’t skied the specific World Championship courses in their entirety. But I know the terrain and the area well, having skied there many times throughout my career. The hills at Lugnet really demand a high capacity. That’s actually my strength,” says Ebba Andersson.

However, she is also aware that long uphill sections mean long descents. It’s in those descents that she sometimes feels uncertain and has even fallen.

“It will be a challenge for me to truly leverage my strengths. There will be even greater demands on the uphill sections.

Also Read: The World Championship courses in Falun are ready

The audience will make the difference

Ebba Andersson has experienced several large championship crowds before, including at the World Championships in Trondheim two years ago.

“But back then, the majority weren’t there to cheer for me. The hope and feeling is that people will really come to Falun to support me in the Swedish outfit.”

Tour de Ski in the basic plan

Before the World Championships, both the World Cup and the Tour de Ski await. However, she does not plan to compete in all World Cup events.

“I want to compete quite a bit, but not in everything. The Tour de Ski is part of my basic plan, but I will choose to skip other World Cup weekends instead.”

Read More – Frida Karlsson prepares for home World Championships: “I hope to put on a show”

The World Championships in Falun will take place from February 24 to March 7, 2027.

Also Read – Falun World Championships 2027: here is the complete competition schedule

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