Emma Ribom, Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist, that’s the team that Sweden is fielding in the relay at the ski WC in Planica. Jonna Sundling is missing, despite having decided the sprint relay with a sprint and won gold in the individual sprint.
– It is surprising, the only explanation is probably her weaker effort in ten kilometers (Sundling 21st and Dahlqvist 10th) then, says Fredriksson and emphasizes that five kilometers, which the distances are measured in a relay for ladies, is closer to a sprint than a distance.
How much do you think the result matters?
– I think that is the only reason why you choose Maja before Jonna, now I think both are fantastically good, so there is no weakening with Maja, but Jonna’s history and habit of winning, I would have thought that they would run her the last stretch, but also that you should have driven Maja on the first.
This is how Sweden should have lined up – according to Fredriksson
Fredriksson is clear about how he himself had lined up the team.
– Considering Maja’s fantastic form in the ten kilometer race, I would have driven her on the starting stretch, then I would have driven Sundling before Ribom on the final stretch, I do that because Jonna has much more routine.
What do you think it is like to choose Ribom before Sundling?
– Ribom is of course qualified, she has all the qualities required to make a fantastic first leg, but so does Jonna Sundling, so it must be that Jonna herself feels that she is not where she wants to be before a relay, otherwise she has I find it hard to overlook Jonna Sundling in a five kilometer relay.
MORE BEFORE THE RELAY: Anders Byström presents the ladies’ team
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