1. Nils van der Poel, skater
Just over a year ago, not many Swedes would have recognized him if they had seen him on the street – but a long break from the sport, military service in Arvidsjaur and an outstanding training plan changed everything for Nils van der Poel. Two World Cup gold medals in 5,000 and 10,000 meters later, and world records in both distances, the 25-year-old from Trollhättan has emerged as not only Sweden’s but one of the entire winter games’ biggest gold favorites in Beijing.
– Nils van der Poel after his world record of 5,000 meters which he set in Utah at the beginning of December last year.
Foto: Rick Bowmer/AP/TT
2. Sprint relay, ladies, cross-country skis
When Linn Svahn injured his shoulder last winter, one of Sweden’s biggest Olympic jumps disappeared, but in the sprint there seems to be almost a bottomless spring with Swedish world-class skiers on the women’s side. That Johanna Hagström, winner of the points cup in the Tour de Ski, is not even allowed to go to Beijing says it all, and in a sprint relay – where we assume that the reigning World Cup gold pair Maja Dahlqvist and Jonna Sundling get the trust once again – it is difficult to see who will be able to threaten a new Swedish triumph.
– Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist after the World Cup gold in Oberstdorf last year.
Photo: Lise Åserud / TT
3. Sandra Näslund, skicross
After missing a medal four years ago in Pyeongchang, expectations have not directly decreased for Sandra Näslund as a new Olympics approaches. Last winter, it was World Cup gold in Idre, despite the 25-year-old having previously missed the entire season due to a knee injury. The current season, on the other hand, has flowed painlessly and with five World Cup victories in as many attempts, it is difficult to ignore Sandra Näslund as the gold favorite in skicross.
– Sandra Näslund goes to the Olympics as a big favorite in skicross.
Photo: Daniel Stiller / Bildbyrån
4. Maja Dahlqvist, cross-country skiing
2021–2022 was the season when Maja Dahlqvist went from sprinter of top international class to become the world’s foremost in the distance. At least that is the situation with one month left until the opening of the Olympics. In Linn Svahn’s and, initially, Jonna Sundling’s absence, the 27-year-old alone has ensured that Sweden continues to subscribe to first places in the sprint, this with four individual World Cup victories out of four possible during the winter plus a relay win with Sunding. If everything rolls on as it has done so far this season, it will be gold for Dahlqvist in Beijing.
– Maja Dahlqvist has won all the World Cup competitions before the Olympics in Beijing.
Photo: Daniel Schaefer / DPA / AP / TT
5. Lag Edin, curling
It finished fourth in Vancouver, bronze in Sochi – and silver in Pyeongchang. Add to that seven European Championship golds and five World Cup golds and there is not much left to conquer for skipper Niklas Edin other than the noblest of denominations even in the Olympics. Together with Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren and Oskar Eriksson, there was a European Championship final loss against Scotland at the end of November. The hope is to take revenge in Beijing.
– An Olympic gold is what is missing in Niklas Edin’s medal collection.
Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB / TT
6. Lag Hasselborg, curling
While Team Edin has won most of the men’s side alongside the Winter Olympics, Team Hasselborg has something of a reverse result on the women’s side. Sure, the merit list includes two European Championship golds and two World Cup silvers – but the curling team’s main achievement is undeniably the Olympic gold in Pyeongchang four years ago when they were the best when it came to the most. The women’s quartet with Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer and Sofia Mabergs also lost a European Championship final against Scotland recently, but the reigning Olympic champions have no other plans than to defend their gold from 2018.
– It was a European Championship silver before the skipper Anna Hasselborg, here with Sara McManus on the left and Sofia Mabergs on the right, in Norwegian Lillehammer this autumn.
Foto: Javad Parsa/NTB/TT
7. Frida Karlsson, cross-country skiing
Twice during the winter, Frida Karlsson has managed to do what for long periods has seemed an impossibility in recent years and defeated Therese Johaug in the long distance. To break the 33-year-old Norwegian – who still lacks an individual Olympic gold – in Beijing, however, something really extra is required. With one month left until the Olympics, Karlsson is far from in top form and unfortunately did not live up to expectations in the Tour de Ski, which she broke earlier than planned.
– Frida Karlsson did not have a successful Tour de Ski but the plan is to be in good shape for the Olympics.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
8. Women’s relay, biathlon
The Swedish relay team has impressed in the World Cup this season with a victory and a third place in two competitions. As the reigning Olympic silver medalist and with the same value in the WC 2019 fresh in memory, Sweden can be considered a real challenger, mainly to the favorite Norway, for the gold in Beijing – this time with a team building spiced by Elvira Öberg who is in the shape of her life and won two straight World Cup competitions before the break over Christmas and New Year.
– Mona Brorsson, Hanna Öberg and Elvira Öberg after third place in the relay in Östersund.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
9. Women’s relay, cross-country skiing
Two given names in the form of Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson, but apart from these, it is probably not as obvious how national team manager Anders Byström will form his relay team on the women’s side where Sweden has a huge chance of a medal. During the World Cup season’s only relay so far, when also with Moa Olsson and Emma Ribom in the team, it was a second place behind the first Russia and before the third Norway.
– The Swedish relay team with Emma Ribom, Moa Olsson, Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson finished second in the World Cup competition in Lillehammer.
Photo: Marius Simensen / Bildbyrån
10. Sebastian Samuelsson, biathlete
Considering the combination of championship routine, previous Olympic medals and achievements during the current season, Sebastian Samuelsson may be considered the biathlete to have the highest hopes for in Beijing, even though Elvira Öberg is the one who impressed the most before the Christmas and New Year break and Hanna Öberg is a championship skiers. Samuelsson has taken another step in his development, is fourth in the overall World Cup and can so far boast four podium finishes, two of which are victories.
– Sebastian Samuelsson has cemented himself at the top of the world and is a strong medal candidate in Beijing.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
Bubbler: Ebba Andersson, cross-country skiing, Jonna Sundling, cross-country skiing, Oskar Svensson, cross-country skiing, Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson, curling (mixed), Tre Kronor, ice hockey (men), Sara Hector, alpine, Kristoffer Jakobsen, alpine, Anna Swenn-Larsson, alpine, parallel team, alpine, Elvira Öberg, biathlon, Hanna Öberg, biathlon, Martin Ponsiluoma, biathlon, mixed relay team, biathlon, men’s relay, biathlon, Sven Thorgren, snowboard, Henrik Harlaut, freeskiing, Oliwer Magnusson, freeskiing, Erik Mobärg Mobärg, skicross, Viktor Andersson, skicross.
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