Cross-country: Gustaf Berglund says he’s improved since getting together with Ebba Andersson

Swedish cross-country skier Gustaf Berglund says his form has taken a step forward since he and fellow national-team star Ebba Andersson became a couple.

Berglund traveled to the World Championships as a reserve but seized his chance in the 50 km, delivering a surprise eighth place that he calls the race of his life. He also set a World Cup personal best last season with seventh place in the 10 km in Cogne, Italy, prior to the Worlds.

Looking ahead to the Olympic season, Berglund highlights Andersson’s influence as a major reason for his progress, praising her unmatched training discipline. The pair inspire each other daily, he says, and he is now chasing selection for the Olympic team.