Cross-country skiing: Moa Ilar explains her breakthrough — “Not so bad to be injured”

Moa Ilar believes that the foot injury she struggled with last season—requiring surgery in the spring—may actually have helped set up her current breakthrough.

She opened the winter with two podium finishes at the Swedish season premiere in Gällivare. When the World Cup began, the momentum continued: Ilar finished third in the 10 km classic in Ruka and second in the 10 km freestyle in Trondheim. She was also only a few hundredths from the podium in Saturday’s skiathlon.

“Many pieces have fallen into place, and I’m really enjoying it,” Ilar told SVT Sport, noting that the process and form gains have strengthened her self‑belief. She jokingly added that it’s “not so bad to be injured” when the recovery period and adjustments result in better performances.

The segment is part of SVT Sport’s coverage of the Trondheim World Cup weekend, which also highlighted Swedish teammates and rivals across the events.