Jonna Sundling is one of Sweden’s premier traditional cross-country skiers. Her breakthrough came at the World Championships in Oberstdorf 2021, where she won gold in the sprint, cementing her status as a global star. At the Beijing Olympics in 2022, she was first in the qualification round and crossed the finish line first in the final, repeating this success at the World Championships in Planica the following year. Her recent championship results seem almost mythical. Over the years, she has achieved great success in both sprints and longer distances. So, is she a sprinter, or is she aiming to become more of an all-round skier? 

“A Good Day and a Good Body” – Progress in Distance Skiing 

Over time, Sundling has shown great potential as a distance skier. Heading into the coming seasons, she faces the exciting challenge of developing her sprint expertise while also striving to grow as a distance skier. 

Sundling made her international sprint breakthrough in 2021 and has since demonstrated world-class skills in multiple championships. Her progress in distance skiing became apparent during the 2022/2023 season.

She delivered strong performances that resulted in podium finishes and several top-10 placements in distance events. Notably, she finished third in the 30km race at Holmenkollen, trailing Therese Johaug and Krista Pärmäkoski. She also secured second place in the 10km freestyle individual start at the Falun Ski Games, just 0.4 seconds ahead of Jessie Diggins and 36 seconds behind the phenomenal Johaug.

Additionally, she won the 20km freestyle mass start in the Scandinavian Cup in Östersund at the end of the year. 

It was in the latter half of the 2023/2024 season that everything came together, leading to her first individual victory on February 18 in Minneapolis. This result shows that Sundling is not only a world-class sprinter but also a skier capable of excelling in longer races, regardless of the starting format. Could she be Sweden’s next complete all-round skier? 

“Ever since I was little, I’ve competed in both sprint and distance but always excelled more in sprint,” Sundling says to Langd.se, adding: 

“I don’t want to feel like I can only succeed in sprinting. I want to feel like I can achieve something in distance skiing as well. I’ve always strived to be an all-round skier.” 

She explains that the training she has done for sprinting has also enhanced her distance skiing abilities, contributing to her success in both disciplines. 

Sprint in Focus – But Distance Beckons 

Despite her distance successes, Jonna still sees sprinting as her main discipline. Her training primarily focuses on improving her sprinting abilities. However, she has a long-term ambition to develop further as a distance skier. 

“It’s probably more sprinting, but of course, I’m drawn to distance skiing as well. I want to improve there too.” 

Combining two disciplines is a challenge. At 29 years old, she acknowledges the careful balance required to maintain her sprinting edge while striving for new successes in distance skiing. 

“At the same time, I don’t want to lose my sprinting ability. It’s a tricky balance, I think,” Sundling reflects. 

Strategy for Success 

Sundling emphasizes that she plans to stick to a training strategy that has already proven effective. By building on her sprint training, she hopes to perform at her best in both disciplines. 

“I’ll probably continue to train much like I have. Focus heavily on sprinting and let distance skiing come as it will.” 

With just less than two weeks until the World Cup season premiere, Jonna is eager to test herself against the World’s best once more. 

Continuity Is Key 

With Bruksvallsloppet, the Swedish Premiere, today, she feels confident in the preparation she has had during the preseason. The race will provide a benchmark for her form in both sprint and distance skiing. 

“I’ve been able to train according to plan, and it’s gone surprisingly well. Not every summer and fall have been like this—it’s often been disrupted by other things, like illnesses and injuries.” 

Also Read – Bruksvallarna Premiere: Complete program & Watch on SC Play!

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BRUKSVALLARNA PREMIERE – WATCH HERE ON SC PLAY!

Sundling also highlights the importance of uninterrupted training. 

“Getting continuity in training has shown in the past that this is when I’ve developed the most.” 

How would you rank this preseason? 

“Very stable and good. Some things disrupt more than others. I hope to avoid those—stay healthy, injury-free, and ready to compete.” 

Mental Flexibility 

At the Gällivare season premiere in 2021, Sundling suffered a bad fall in the quarterfinals, resulting in a four-week recovery in a cast. The key was her ability to bounce back quickly. When asked about her mental adaptability to setbacks like injuries or illnesses, she remains calm and determined. 

“I think I’m a pretty flexible person. But it’s often tough when it happens. I’m usually quick to accept it. It doesn’t make things easier or better if I get angry or waste energy on it. Instead, I focus on what’s best for me here and now,” Sundling concludes. 

If you a Swedish speaker, watch the full interview with Jonna on SC Play. The video is 29 minutes long.

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