Cross-country: Linn Svahn on the talked‑about SVT interview: “What? I was just fed up”

Swedish cross-country skier Linn Svahn has addressed a widely discussed exchange with SVT Sport during last season’s Tour de Ski. After the January 1 pursuit in Toblach, where she placed 19th, Svahn became irritated by a question suggesting she might quit the Tour.

Appearing with teammate Frida Karlsson in the new season of SVT’s talk show Kallprat, Svahn said she was simply “fed up” at the time and still believes the question was unfounded. “We don’t need more people dropping out. It’s not a justified reason to quit just because things aren’t going super well,” she said. Karlsson agreed, adding that media often fuels the narrative by repeatedly asking whether an athlete will continue or withdraw from the Tour.

The pair argued such framing can paint athletes as fragile—“that we’re weaker, that we can’t handle competing all the time, that we quit when it goes badly”—a portrayal they reject. While both said they try to be open with media, persistent negativity can make them tired of interviews. Svahn noted her personal threshold for media has moved “earlier and earlier” over the years, and she sometimes just wants to be left alone.

SVT also listed the guest lineup for Kallprat’s third season: Nov 18 – Frida Karlsson & Linn Svahn; Nov 25 – Sara Hector; Dec 2 – Ella Halvarsson; Dec 9 – Stina Nilsson; Dec 16 – Martin Ponsiluoma; Dec 30 – Edvin Anger.