Glenn Lindholm, Sports Director at the Finnish Swedish Ski Association (FSS), will join the Chinese national cross-country ski team as head coach for the 2025/2026 season, leading their Olympic preparations ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026.

According to a press release from the Finnish Swedish Ski Association (FSS), Lindholm will serve as head coach of the Chinese team during their preparation for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina 2026. The assignment is part of a collaboration with the Winter Sports Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sports of China and represents a unique opportunity for the coach to lead one of the world’s largest sports programs.

“This is a time-limited project, and I will return to my position at Finlands Svenska Idrott and FSS after the assignment is completed,” said Lindholm. He sees the new role as a valuable opportunity for personal growth and an experience that will ultimately benefit the Finnish Swedish sports movement.

Lindholm has worked in China before and is familiar with the culture and the high-performance expectations.

“What fascinates me most about the Chinese sports environment is the professional attitude and modern training facilities. As head coach, I obviously carry great responsibility, especially since the goal is to perform at the Olympics,” said Lindholm, and adds:

“But what I look forward to most is the team spirit—living, training, and working together toward a common goal.”

In addition to coaching at the highest level, Lindholm believes the experience will help develop new perspectives and skills that he can bring back to his work with FSS and its member clubs. He also recalled a previous coaching experience in China with his son, Remi, which he says played a key role in shaping Remi’s athletic development.

“In China, skiing is still a small sport, but sport in general is huge. Just look at the Summer Olympics in Paris—China won 40 gold medals, and that didn’t happen by chance,” Lindholm said.

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