The cross-country skiing star had just finished a session at Granåsen and was on her way back to the stadium. That’s when the Swede chose a different path than she had before. 

“Suddenly, I found myself on a steep hill. It was dry (on the asphalt) everywhere, but not exactly there. Suddenly, I was up to 50 kilometers per hour, and then… I just slipped,” Moa Lundgren tells Expressen. 

At that moment, the athlete had only one thought in her head: 

“I just thought, ‘Oh God, did anyone see that?’ I broke a pole and wasn’t bleeding anywhere, not even a scratch. I just wanted to leave the scene,” Lundgren says and adds: 

“I’ve never fallen at that speed before.”

The 26-year-old didn’t think much more about the fall. She lined up for the sprint that afternoon but withdrew after the prologue. 

“I had a terrible headache. I remember thinking there was a lot of stress where we were changing, a lot of noise and light. The next day, I was awake for maybe five hours. I’ve never been awake so few hours in a day.”

Life Turned Upside Down 

After the crash during Toppidrettsveka, Lundgren’s everyday life has been turned upside down. She can’t drive, watch TV, use a computer, or scroll on her phone.

“Driving a car or looking at my phone, computer, or TV… I haven’t been able to do that.”

How does it feel? 

“You feel a lot of pressure in your head. It feels like there’s more in your head than what can fit. Then you have to lie down in a dark room. It’s crazy how well that helps,” she says, according to Langrenn.com.

Still, Lundgren has managed to train a little. 

“I’ve been able to jog a bit in the woods. As long as I keep my head somewhat still, I’ve been able to use the double-poling machine. So, I’ve managed to get some training in. And I’m pleased about that,” Lundgren says.

Uncertain When She Will Be Back 

Before the season, the skier was offered a spot on the Swedish elite national team but declined in favor of a private training setup. She thinks this might be an advantage, considering the concussion. 

“I think it has accelerated my recovery. I can take one day at a time and see where my limits are. There are no stress factors around me,” Lundgren says.

Also Read: Moa Lundgren’s season plans

When can you get back to normal? 

“We haven’t talked about that. I don’t want to stress myself or convince myself that I’m better than I am. But if things continue like this, I’ll try roller skiing a little this week.”

Lundgren is not the only one injured on roller skis in Granåsen. During Toppidrettsveka last year, the Norwegian national team skier Julie Myhre crashed when her roller ski came loose at high speed. She then suffered a shoulder injury, which meant she had to train alternatively for most of the autumn and wasn’t properly back until after New Year. 

Head Injuries Must Be Taken Seriously 

Heidi Weng has had bad experiences with long-term effects after a concussion. For several seasons, she has been severely affected by headaches and fatigue following the concussion she suffered before the Norwegian National Championships part 2 in 2022. 

Just before the summer holidays, biathlete Endre Strømsheim crashed on his bike. 

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