On Monday, December 5, Ebba Andersson tested positive for covid-19. The day after she came third in the World Cup race and the mass start over 20 kilometers in classic style in Lillehammer.
– At first I could hardly believe my eyes. Did I really see two lines? There were clear lines, which was so strange. One day I’m on the podium after a World Cup race and the next day I’m on my way home with symptoms of corona, says Andersson.
Extra heavy for her after the fine start to the season with three individual podium places in four World Cup competitions.
– Maybe that’s why I was able to keep some form of calm. I knew I had performed at a high level. I knew the shape had been there. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard to get back there, she says.
After extra rest and focus on training sensibly after the illness, she is now ready for a competitive comeback. It takes place in this weekend’s three competitions in the Scandinavian Cup in Falun, which begins with 10 kilometers in freestyle on Friday.
It will be a test for Andersson to see how the body reacts in a competitive context.
– There are several sessions where I got good training. Therefore, I feel some form of security ahead of the competitions that await this weekend. Then you get to see how the body responds in a competitive situation. Then there is still a few percent more involved, says Andersson.
– I want to get a good feeling and at the same time see how it corresponds with how fast it goes. If it feels good, you also want it to show in terms of results that you go fast.
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She’s making a comeback just a few days after Frida Karlsson pushed herself so hard that she lost consciousness after the final stage of the Tour de Ski. Many were worried, but not Ebba Andersson.
– To be honest, I saw the race in hindsight. I was out training. Then I heard from mom and dad that she was doing well. I therefore never had time to build up a concern when I watched.
But the question is how much a skier must torture his body to win a competition.
– It is difficult to know where the line is. This means that you sometimes step over it. Then everyone reacts differently, answers Ebba Andersson and emphasizes that she too has a strong brow bone and nose to the “wall”.
– We react differently to exhaustion. I have become very tired. But it is a matter of definition what it means to go into the wall. I’ve probably gotten very tired and thought about how to manage to get things done. But many times you can handle more than you think.
Have you ever passed out after a race?
– Not from exhaustion. I have fainted because of syringes, says Andersson, and talks about his syringe phobia:
– I had a phobia of syringes, but have gotten over it. We are exposed to needles quite a lot because we have to give many blood samples, both for our own checks and tests, but also at all doping controls. Through that, it is de-dramatized.
Read more:
The Olympic hero: Then it is dangerous to go out too much
The doctor about Frida Karlsson: May suffer from loss of shape
