A single number on his heart-rate monitor made him jump. Now he explains what happened in the lead-up to the Olympics.

Last year, the 23-year-old from Sweden won the U23 World Cup by a considerable margin and finished second overall in the World Cup, right behind Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Podium finishes came one after another from November to March; he won a World Championship medal and was given the green light for the Olympics as early as May.

This season has been very different.

“I’ve struggled and haven’t been able to get it out in sprint races. Only occasionally. It’s been very up and down. I’ve had a good day here and there, but then a whole series of bad competitions where I didn’t feel particularly fresh,” says Edvin Anger.

No clear answers

Ahead of the Olympics, Anger is sixth overall in the World Cup and ninth in the sprint World Cup. The Swedish ski star has not advanced past the quarterfinals in a single classic sprint since the national season opener in Gällivare in November.

He himself has no clear answers as to why.

“A lot points to the fact that things haven’t been as they should. It was good in Gällivare and completely OK in Ruka, but after that, something happened. Everything collapsed. My resting heart rate went up by five beats and stayed there for a month. That’s a clear sign,” says Anger.

“I probably hit some wall at the end of November. But what kind of wall it was, I don’t know. Maybe I was low on energy, or the total load was too high. But it feels like things are turning around now, and I’m happy about that.”

In the classic sprint in Goms, the final World Cup round before the Olympics, Anger claimed his first international podium of the season in an Olympic event.

The podium finish was also one of the main talking points of the Goms weekend.

How important was that podium in Goms?

“It was quite important when I wasn’t getting the results I wanted, especially in classic sprint. I’ve gone out in all the quarterfinals. I haven’t reached a single semifinal this season. So, it was great to reach my first final,” says Anger, adding:

“It was the first time all season that I recognized my body.”

Believes in sprint gold

Anger is now looking forward to getting the Olympics underway, with the sprint on Tuesday, February 10, as the big highlight.

That is despite several experts and athletes suggesting that the sprint course in Val di Fiemme favors endurance over speed and power. Anger does not agree that the course will stand in the way of a medal.

“No. I’m not someone who complains that the Olympic course is long or tough. When I’m in good shape, that course suits me well,” says the 23-year-old, who tips the scales at over 100 kilos.

“I showed that in Goms last week. The two courses are relatively similar. So, when I have a good day and good skis, it’s just about going for it,” says Anger.

But Klæbo was utterly dominant, both there and in the Olympic test event in Val di Fiemme during the Tour de Ski. How do you plan to race tactically to match him?

“It will be more or less what I did in Goms, even if the Olympic course has a slightly different profile. Everything will be decided on the final climb. That’s where you have to be in position and prepare for it to hurt. If I’m there at the top, I have every chance to do something big. Johannes won’t get it as easily as he did in the Tour de Ski test event.”

After Monday’s speed session, his first since the sprint in Goms, Edvin Anger says the feeling is still there. If it holds, he plans to go all in at the Olympics.

“I’ll feel how the body responds, but the basic plan is to go for it. There’s a good time between the races, so it should be fine.”

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