A year ago, Oskar Svensson was dropped from the Swedish national team. Now he’s back. In this article, he talks about being back, last winter’s lessons, and practicing right turns at high speed.

Oskar Svensson made his senior championship debut in 2017 and lined up solid results over the following five years. Ahead of the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf, he was one of the top sprinters in the world. This was after winning the sprints during the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme and Ulricehamn and finishing second in Falun.

Once at the World Championships, he made it to the final in the sprint, where he finished sixth. The same position was also achieved at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The following season was more difficult for Svensson, who had problems with both his back and with illnesses, and a year ago, it was clear that he was not in the Swedish national team for the season 2023/2024, which ended just over a month ago:

“I have learned a lot during the last season; I have been able to spend a lot of time at home and been able to organize the training in the way I want,” says Svensson, who a couple of weeks ago found out that he is now after a World Cup season where he finished ninth in Östersund and tenth in the sprints in both Goms and Drammen again part of the Swedish A team.

“I’m really excited and motivated to be part of the national team again,” Svensson says to Langd.se.

Also Read: Swedish cross-country skiing teams for the Season 2024/2025

What are the biggest advantages of being part of the national team?

“There are several, but one thing I didn’t think about before is all the help you get with skis and equipment, which is probably the hardest thing to replace. Then there is the partner competitiveness at training, I had problems with that this year. Then I had to ‘race myself’ more,” says Svensson.

Did you change anything in your training last year that you will bring into this year’s season?

“Yes, last year, I made a clearer training periodization and got a solid base during the summer before I went on with the faster sessions. That’s one thing I’ll take with me. Then I’ll make sure to follow my plan and not be too stressed when I go to the first camps with the team and to believe in my plan,” says Svensson, who, like many other national team skiers, lives in Östersund.

This means that it is “only” (according to Google Maps) three and a half hours by car to next winter’s World Championships arena in Trondheim:

“We will be in Trondheim for a training camp during Toppidrettsveka (mid-August), and then there will probably be a few more trips there.” 

What characteristics will be crucial on the World Championships sprint track?

“Looking at the World Cup sprint from last winter, the stadium entrance was crucial. So, taking right turns in a good way at high speed will be crucial.” 

Are you good at right turns?

“I would say that I am better at left turns; I have to work on getting the right turns right, too,” concludes Oskar Svensson.

Svensson’s championship results

OLYMPIC GAMES 

• 2018: Sprint 5th
• 2022: Sprint 6th 
• 2022: Relay 4th 
• 2022: Sprint Relay 4th 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 2017: Sprint 18th 
• 2019: Sprint 10th 
• 2019: Skiathlon 27th 
• 2019: Sprint Relay 4th 
• 2019: Relay 5th 
• 2021: Sprint 6th 
• 2021: Sprint Relay 6th 
• 2021: Relay 4th 

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