Halfvarsson on his new push: “There can be a million doubters”

Swedish cross-country veteran Calle Halfvarsson says he is launching a fresh push toward the upcoming Olympic season. He opened his campaign at Sweden’s SM‑veckan (National Championships Week) in Norrköping, where he won the mass start on roller skis.

After a choppy last season, compounded by back problems, Halfvarsson has decided to train outside the Swedish national team structure in order to manage his own preparation for the winter. His focus is the classic‑technique sprint on the Olympic program.

Halfvarsson set an ambitious benchmark: to take on Johannes Høsflot Klæbo in the Olympic sprint. “You have to set high, exciting goals if you’re going to put in all the hours. People can think what they want—there can be a million doubters out there, I don’t care that much about it,” he said.

The SM‑gold in roller skiing marks a positive start to his independent preparation phase as he targets form and health for the winter World Cup and the Olympic sprint.