Elvira Niva thought she was speaking to a salesperson. It turned out to be the Swedish junior national team coach delivering surprising news to the 16-year-old from Kiruna.

Elvira Niva had her first season as a junior last winter. The season included a lot: a national team debut, her first experience in Ski Classics, and a medal at the Junior Swedish Championships. Thanks to her strong performance, she received an unexpected call this spring.

Surprised

It was junior national team coach Linda Danvind-Malm who called.

“I was very shocked and pleasantly surprised when she called. It was really something I hadn’t expected,” Elvira Niva told Langd.se.

Dandvind-Malm informed her that Elvira was one of the eight women selected for the Team Svenska Spel Junior National Team.

“I saw that I had a missed call from an unknown number. I thought I’d call back to see if it was something important; I thought it was a salesperson. But it was Linda, who is responsible for the junior national team, who answered. She told me I made it. It was a real surprise,” Niva admitted:

“I answered cautiously as if it were a salesperson, then I realized.”

Completed her first year of High School

For the upcoming season, 16 athletes have been selected for the Swedish junior national team, eight women and eight men. The 16-year-old has just finished her first year at the ski high school in Gällivare, and being part of the junior national team was a goal she had set for herself.

“They expanded the team this year, so it’s eight plus eight. It was more of a goal I had for my third and fourth years in high school.”

Enjoys challenging conditions

According to Niva, the highlight of the season was the silver medal in the mass start at the Junior Swedish Championships. She also shared the podium with her classmate Thelma Falk, who is also one of the athletes on the junior national team.

“I would still say the mass start at the JSM, the fifteen-kilometer skate, where I came in second. It was probably one of the best races of my life. It was so fun to share the podium with Thelma, my classmate. And that we were first and second.”

What are your strengths as a skier?

“I enjoy the longer distances, preferably a bit tough. It doesn’t bother me if it’s really challenging or if there are steep climbs. That has been my strength throughout my career, if you can call it a career. At least my whole life as a skier.”

Tried Ski Classics

In addition to making her national team debut during the junior national competition in Ulricehamn, Niva also debuted in Ski Classics. It was not just any race, but one of the toughest of the season: Reistadløpet.

“Bardufoss is quite close to Kiruna, where I come from. I took a trip there, and it was a lot of fun. It was probably one of the most demanding but also one of the most enjoyable races I have done,” she said, elaborating:

“I also look up to many of the long-distance skiers, and I enjoy long distances. Right there in Bardufoss and at Reistadløpet, it’s quite hilly too. But Ski Classics is appealing; there’s a lot that’s fun about it.”

Looks up to several stars

In Bardufoss, she received support from Team Eksjöhus, and there are several Ski Classics athletes that Elvira admires.

“They had a lot of strong women, such as Louise Lindström and Magni Smedås. I also think Emelie Fleten is really cool. It feels like she really dares and isn’t afraid to push her limits. It also seems like she has a real joy for the sport; it’s nice to see,” she concluded.

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