Following her triumphant performance at the World Championships in Planica, Swedish cross-country skiing sensation Emma Ribom expresses her determination to excel in the upcoming season.

Ribom, who secured gold, silver, and bronze medals at the World Championships, now sets her sights on the sprint cup as her primary objective.

“Competing for a good position in the sprint cup is my main goal,” declares the 25-year-old athlete.

In December 2019, Ribom achieved her first World Cup podium finish at the Lillehammer relay race. A season and a half later, she clinched her initial individual podium placement during the Tour de Ski, capturing third place in the sprint event in Val di Fiemme. Linn Svahn and Maja Dahlqvist, her teammates, claimed the first and second spots, respectively.

Fast forward to November 2022, during the World Cup premiere in Ruka, Finland, where Ribom celebrated her maiden World Cup victory. The following week, she achieved another remarkable triumph in Lillehammer. Thus, it commenced a season that reached its zenith during a great week in Planica, Slovenia. Ribom ensured a medal haul encompassing

all three precious metals.

She claimed bronze in the distance relay, secured silver behind Jonna Sundling in the sprint event, and achieved gold alongside Sundling in the team sprint. Reflecting on her accomplishments, Ribom affirmed to Langd.se during the Swedish national team’s presentation: 

“It was an exceptional season. These successes have given me a strong assurance for the future. I am confident in the effectiveness of my work and will continue to follow the same path in the upcoming season.”

Also Read: Swedish cross-country skiing teams for the season 2023/2024

When asked to highlight the aspects that contributed to her success last season, Ribom emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive and steadfast plan. She elaborates:

“I believe in having a well-defined and coherent plan and executing it diligently from start to finish. I managed to adhere to this approach effectively last summer and intend to maintain the same plan as before.”

In preparation for the previous season, Ribom, in collaboration with Jonna Sundling, opted for high-altitude training camps. This decision diverged from the choices made by other members of the Swedish national team.

Also Read: Swedish skiers running their altitude training camp

Looking ahead to the forthcoming season, the Swedish national team prioritizes altitude training (you can read more here). Ribom explains her affinity for this type of training and its positive impact on her performance: 

“I feel good at high altitude, I like that type of training, and I have received good responses with camps at altitude before. So, my plan has always been to work on that part.”

Notably, the upcoming winter will lack major championships such as the World Championships or Winter Olympics. Ribom acknowledges the absence of a championship but expresses enthusiasm for the challenges ahead. She revels in the anticipation, stating:

“For me, it is the first season without a championship. I like preparing for a championship and optimizing everything towards a specific goal. But even what awaits now feels very fun and inspiring. When discussing goals for the coming season, the sprint cup is probably the closest for me. I want to fight for good overall positions there,” concludes Emma Ribom.