After the sensational win on Saturday in classic style, Leo Johansson had a hard time falling asleep.
– There were a few things that flew in my head, he says.
Here, a young, promising skier, who grew up in Småland’s Skillingaryd, competing for Falun Borlänge ski club, had struck many with astonishment and won his main victory in his career.
When he woke up on Sunday, he followed up with a victory also in the 15 kilometer freestyle, six seconds ahead of Jonas Eriksson.
That was the proof needed for him to be taken very seriously in the winter.
National team manager Anders Byström praised the young talent already after the first win. After the second, Leo Johansson was a hot name for the World Cup premiere in Ruka in Finland next weekend, even though he did not yet know in the finish line what would happen to that thing.
– I have been at a decent level for quite some time, but have not been able to take these steps up and really fight at the top of the seniors, but now I feel that the training has given results.
Before the competitions he was very nervous.
– I had no big performance goals but just wanted to make the ride work. But my coaches encouraged me to trust what I did. You have a good foundation to stand on, they said, says Leo Johansson.
Last winter he changed the training together with friends Jonas Eriksson and Eric Rosjö.
– Then we have fine-tuned and it can be seen in the results now, says Leo Johansson.
When he talks about the goal this winter, it sounds like something he has placed far back in his head, but now dares to hope for.
– The Olympics were a dream goal for the season, if it goes really well. To go in the U23 WC has been that all the time and to go very well there, says Leo Johansson.
After the premiere in Gällivare, the Olympics have come a bit closer. Maybe not least as a cog part of the relay team.
– We’ll see, these are just two competitions, says Leo Johansson about the introduction.
At the competitions in the start of the season, last winter’s two best men were missing William Poromaa who had a cold and Jens Burman, who broke last Saturday due to back pain.
– It will be fun to measure the forces with them later, says Leo Johansson.
Read more:
Leo Johansson impressed in Gällivare – won the 15 km classic
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