Jonna Sundling on her biggest Olympic disappointment: “Angry and bewildered”

Swedish cross‑country skiing champion Jonna Sundling has looked back on a painful episode from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Although she enjoyed a breakthrough performance—collecting three medals and demonstrating outstanding form—she was not selected for the women’s 30 km race.

In her summer radio talk, Sundling says being omitted from the lineup despite her results was “hard to take,” describing feelings of anger and confusion in the immediate aftermath. The decision has remained a lingering disappointment, even as the rest of the Olympics stands out as a career high.

Sundling, one of Sweden’s leading sprint specialists, emphasizes how selection calls at major championships can be emotionally taxing, particularly when athletes feel their performances warrant a start. Her reflections offer a candid look at the pressures and politics surrounding team selections at the Games.

Listeners can hear Sundling’s full summer talk through Sveriges Radio.