Elin Ek has turned 50, has two children, and runs her own business at home in Ludvika. But despite her excellent results, probably not many people recognize the former national team skier on the streets.

She is one of the many skiers who appeared on TV screens weekend after weekend for a long period but then disappeared and now leads a pretty typical Swedish life.

“I am a self-employed wellness professional and mainly work with massage and training,” says Elin, who still has strong ties to sports.

According to Langd.se, originally from Avesta and Näs IF, she now lives in Ludvika, where she is active with Källbottens IK. Elin Ek is still active and competes at a recreational level in orienteering and is a coach in both orienteering and skiing. Occasionally, she still participates in some ski competitions.

In 2003, she won three Swedish Championship golds, taking home the 5km classic, 5km pursuit in freestyle, and the classic 30km. She won a total of six Swedish Championship golds, the last in 2006, the same year she won Tjejvasan and started getting a taste for long-distance races.

Vasaloppet for women was still somewhat overshadowed by the men’s race, but she won in 2007 and was greatly celebrated for it. That year, Elin Ek was the queen of long-distance races and took home the FIS Marathon Cup overall, with victories in both Tartu Maraton and König Ludwig Lauf.

Elin Ek did not quite reach the top internationally in traditional competitions. Her best was 5th place in the World Cup, in a 15km classic mass start in Otepää in 2004. Additionally, she was part of the team that finished 4th in the Olympic relay in Pragelato in 2006. It was the relay where Anna-Karin Strömstedt broke away on the final climb and nearly caused a major sensation.

ELIN EK

• Born: 1973
• Lives: Ludvika
• Occupation: Self-employed in wellness – mainly works with massage and training.
• Family: Partner and 2 children
• Clubs as an athlete: Näs IF, Bergeforsens SK, and IFK Mora SK
• Career ended: 2008
• Best memory from my career: I have many great memories, but if I have to choose one, it would be the victory at Vasaloppet 2007.
• What I miss from my active career: I really miss going to the Alps in the fall to ski at high altitude and train on dry land in the summer warmth in the afternoons.
• How I follow sports today: I am a coach here at home in Källbottens IK and follow my children who both compete in cross-country skiing. I also like to watch both Ski Classics and the traditional World Cup on TV when I have time.
• My hobbies today: I still enjoy training and living an active life; I coach both summer and winter, in orienteering and skiing. I run orienteering competitions, do a bit of ski orienteering, maybe some cross-country ski competitions, and I enjoy hiking, preferably somewhere in the Alps.

ELIN EK’S ACHIEVEMENTS

Participated in the Olympics three times

• 1998, Nagano (JPN)
• 2002, Salt Lake City (USA)
• 2006, Turin (ITA)
• Best Olympic result: 4th in the 4×5km relay 2006.

Other achievements

• 1st Swedish Championship 5km classic 2003
• 1st Swedish Championship 5km free pursuit 2003
• 1st Swedish Championship 30km classic 2003
• 1st Swedish Championship 5km classic pursuit 2004
• 1st Swedish Championship 30km free 2004
• 1st Swedish Championship 10km classic 2006
• 1st Tjejvasan 2006
• 1st Vasaloppet 2007
• 1st FIS Marathon Cup 2006-2007
• 1st König Ludwig Lauf 2008
• 1st Tartu Maraton 2007
• 1st König Ludwig Lauf 2007
• 2nd Swedish Championship 5km free 2003
• 2nd Swedish Championship 5km classic 2004
• 2nd Swedish Championship 15km classic mass start 2004
• 2nd Swedish Championship 10km free 2005
• 2nd Swedish Championship 15km free mass start 2005
• 2nd Swedish Championship 2×7.5km pursuit 2005
• 2nd Swedish Championship 30km free mass start 2006
• 2nd Engadin Marathon Cup 2008
• 2nd Marcialonga 2008
• 2nd Marcialonga 2007
• 3rd Swedish Championship 30km classic 2005
• 3rd Birkebeinerrennet 2008
• 3rd Dolomitenlauf 2008
• 5th World Cup 15km classic mass start, Otepää (EST) 2004
• 6th World Championship relay Val di Fiemme 2003
• 8th World Cup sprint classic, Val di Fiemme (ITA) 2003-04
• 8th World Championship relay Oberstdorf 2005
• 9th World Cup 10km classic, Nove Mesto (CZE) 2004

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