The bomb: Warning

HOLMENKOLLEN (Dagbladet): Four years after Stina Nilsson replaced cross-country skiing with biathlon, she has chosen to end the era with a bag on her back.

Now, long-distance running is her new career path.

Several raised their eyebrows when the Olympic gold winner retired as a cross-country athlete in 2020, aged 26. At that time, she had an Olympic sprint gold, two World Cup golds and 16 individual World Cup victories.

Stina Nilsson’s cross-country career also consisted of some blunders. Look here:

Fasit after four years with the exchange on her back is one World Cup podium during the sprint in Kontiolahti in 2022. She was number thirty in the overall World Cup that season.

She has slaughtered on her CV.

Lots of slaughter:

The shooting, in particular, has been a victim of the critics’ merciless judgment.

On 24 April this year, the Norwegian national cross-country team was announced. Several of the athletes are surprised by Nilsson’s choice:

– She is probably looking for her best qualities. I was surprised when I saw it. But it’s fun for her, says Anne Kjersti Kalvå to Dagbladet.

The 31-year-old is still unsure what Nilsson can achieve in the long-distance circus. At least in the short term:

– I hope she succeeds, but I think she will experience the same thing there as when she switched to biathlon: The level is high and people train and become good over many years. It’s not just about switching sports in agony and thinking you’ll be at the top, explains Kalvå.

Heidi Weng has become one of the veterans of the cross-country circus. The 32-year-old, who is the oldest woman on the Norwegian women’s national team, admits that she had hoped for a different career path for the Swedish woman:

– I had hoped she had chosen cross-country skiing again. I am a fan of Stina Nilsson. Maybe we’ll see her at the WC in Trondheim? says Weng to Dagbladet.

She continues:

– But yes, I was very surprised by the choice. She was extremely good at skiing and cross-country skiing. She was by far the best in sprints. I was surprised the day she chose biathlon, but I think it’s cool that people do something else. I have the feeling for that, says Weng.

Stina Nilsson herself explains the choice as follows in a press release.

– I feel I have reached my potential in biathlon. I have always been fascinated and inspired by long-distance running and the Vasaloppet. When the Aukland brothers with Team Ragde Charge got in touch, I felt that: “Yes, I want to do this”.