Sweden’s 19-year-old cross-country sensation selected for the Olympics — a U-turn from last spring

Sweden has advanced its Olympic cross‑country selections, adding Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist, Moa Ilar, Johanna Hagström, Emma Ribom, Anton Grahn and Alvar Myhlback to the team. Earlier, Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, Jonna Sundling, William Poromaa and Edvin Anger had already been named.

Myhlback’s inclusion is drawing the most attention. Last spring he publicly stated he wasn’t targeting the Olympics because he was also competing—and succeeding—on the long‑distance Ski Classics circuit. He signed a two‑year deal with Team Lager 157 after making history by winning the Vasaloppet at just 18, the youngest winner ever.

The teenager’s balancing act between Ski Classics and the World Cup has been widely discussed in Sweden. Controversy flared last season when he was left off Sweden’s junior world championships team because he skipped the domestic selection race to race a Ski Classics event.

Despite his earlier stance, Myhlback has delivered strong World Cup results this season: ninth in the sprint at Ruka and third in the sprint at Trondheim—his first World Cup podium. His marathon background has made him an exceptionally strong double‑poler; in Trondheim he skied to third using only double‑poling, with no grip wax, because the course had no zones where double‑poling was prohibited. That sprint was won by Johannes Hösflot Kläbo (his 100th World Cup victory), with Oskar Opstad Vike second and Myhlback splitting the Norwegians in third.

Johanna Hagström was also selected despite a disappointing race in Davos; she was emotional afterward about the pressure of competing with teammates for limited Olympic spots. Sweden has eight women’s and eight men’s Olympic quota spots in cross‑country. Finland’s quotas are eight for women and seven for men.

Source: SVT