Women’s coach Stefan Thomson highlights the Swedish team’s cohesion as one of the key factors in their World Championship successes.

Swedish Women’s Cross-Country Coach on Team’s Success

Stefan Thomson, the Swedish women’s cross-country coach, now discusses some of the areas the national team has focused on to ultimately achieve success at the World Championships – “it doesn’t work for everyone.”

The Swedish cross-country team has had a dream start at the World Championships in Trondheim. After several medals and impressive performances, the team’s morale is high. One of the key figures behind the success is women’s coach Stefan Thomson. He emphasizes the importance of a strong team spirit.

“We’ve made team spirit a key theme over the last few years and have worked actively on it”, says Stefan Thomson.

“We have very good cohesion, and it certainly affects us when we succeed. There’s a relaxed atmosphere between races, and we make sure to support each other when it matters”, he adds.

After winning seven medals, the team has received a huge energy boost.

“We’ve had the luck on our side this time, and it feels fantastic”, says Thomson, emphasizing the importance of the positive atmosphere within the team.

Also Read: Ebba Andersson wins 10km classic at the World Championships in Trondheim

Building and maintaining a good team spirit has been a central part of the national team’s strategy over the past few years.

“It’s been an ongoing focus for us, and we’ve worked actively on strengthening our cohesion. Since we spend so much time together during the season, it’s crucial for our performance that we enjoy being together and function well as a group,” explains Thomson.

Frida Karlsson also confirms this after the Skiathlon.

“In the last few days, Ebba has radiated energy, and we’ve all just wanted to be around her.”

Flexible Strategy – Altitude Doesn’t Work for Everyone

Another important aspect is how the athletes prepare for the championships. Ahead of this year’s World Championship, the national team has focused more on individual preparations. Some athletes have chosen high-altitude training, while others have preferred training at lower altitudes.

“We’ve given the athletes more freedom to tailor their preparation to their own needs. High-altitude training doesn’t work for everyone, so we’ve chosen a more flexible strategy”, he says.

With a strong team spirit and customized preparations, Stefan Thomson looks optimistically toward the rest of the championships. The Swedish team has already shown their strength – and the hunger for more medals is excellent.

FACTS 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships

• When: Wednesday, February 26, to Sunday, March 9, 2025
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Trondheim, Norway
• What: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2025

Wednesday, February 26 (More information HERE)

• 13:30 CET: Qualification, 7.5km Classic, Women
• 15:30 CET: Qualification, 7.5km Classic, Men

Thursday, February 27 (More information HERE)

• 10:00 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Women
• 10:52 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Men
• 12:30 CET: Sprint Finals Freestyle, Women
• 12:30 CET: Sprint Finals Freestyle, Men

Saturday, March 1 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Men

Sunday, March 2 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Women

Tuesday, March 4 (More information HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 15:30 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic – Women

Wednesday, March 5 (More information HERE)

• 11:00 CET: Team Sprint Qualification Classic, Women
• 11:00 CET: Team Sprint Qualification Classic, Men
• 14:30 CET: Team Sprint Classic, Women
• 14:30 CET: Team Sprint Classic, Men

Thursday, March 6 (More information HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Men

Friday, March 7 (More information HERE)

• 13:15 CET: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Women

Saturday, March 8 (More information HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Men

Sunday, March 9 (More information HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

PROGRAM (traditional cross-country skiing program) 

Also Read: Cross-country skiing program for the Trondheim World Championships

The Nordic World Ski Championships is taking place in Trondheim, Norway, from February 26 to March 9, 2025. It promises to be the largest sporting event in Norway in 15 years, with more than 300.000 spectators expected to attend. 

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.