At 24, she has always been a huge talent. In fact, she was on her way to joining the national football team but chose skiing after her time in Lycksele. Even at the Swedish Junior Championships, it was clear that her talent was something extraordinary. Now, she is one of the three Swedish women skiers mentioned as a possible winner of the overall World Cup. The other two are Jonna Sundling and Frida Karlsson.

Also Read: The road to the Trondheim World Championships for Linn Svahn

Despite winning the sprint cup, with 12 victories out of 30 sprint races and 7 additional podium finishes, Linn Svahn doesn’t see herself becoming a name for the overall World Cup. Even though she should have the potential. After two seasons out with injuries, she made a strong comeback last winter and performs well at all distances. She competed for the overall World Cup against Jessica Diggins and stood on the podium in all distances at the Swedish Championships – something no other skier achieved.

With three victories in World Cup distance races, might lead some to believe that the overall World Cup is a future goal.

“I think I have the potential to do it. It’s just a matter of whether I want to. If I wanted to win a 50km freestyle, I wouldn’t win a classic sprint. I don’t think so. I don’t want to give up one thing to get another,” Svahn says in an interview with Aftonbladet.

Can a skier who wins everything even exist?

“There’s probably a super combination that comes up once every hundred years. A few manage it, but I don’t think I will. The level is so high that you can’t be mediocre at everything and expect to win. If you want to be good at something, you can be really good at it, but then you’ll be a little worse at something else. For me, a 50km freestyle isn’t so appealing yet.”

Do you see yourself becoming a Johaug, winning distance races week in and week out?

“No, not with the way I’m built and trained now.”

“Last year, I had no focus on the overall World Cup. But when it got so close in the end, and you were racing for it in the final competitions, of course it’s something that tempts me. I think it’s a big deal to be able to win and be the best over an entire season. But then you probably need to win more than just sprints,” she says to the newspaper.

Wants to Win World Championship Gold in Sprint

Now, the focus is instead on the World Championships in Trondheim. Linn Svahn has learned every meter of the sprint course, as the national team has been training on the upcoming World Championship tracks this summer.

Is it an advantage to have been here before the World Championships?

“You can at least convince yourself of that. But I think it’s helpful to see the location. It’s good to stay in the same accommodation. You return to something you know how it works. And it’s useful in training to see the roller ski track, which is identical to the competition tracks we’ll race on. So, of course, it’s good.”

This summer, she has finally been injury-free, and Linn has trained according to the plan set by coaches Marcus Bystedt and Ola Ravald. Small details have been improved, and she’s aiming to be even better.

Will it be a battle against Skistad?

She says she wants to specialize even more in sprinting this winter. “That’s where I see I have the best chance of taking a medal and winning gold in a championship. So, there will be more of those moments phased in.”

That should scare everyone aiming for the sprint gold in Trondheim, except perhaps the Norwegian star Kristine Stavaas Skistad, who was a tough competitor for the Swedish women last season.

However, Linn Svahn has her course set for Trondheim. She says she won’t race in a 50 km at the World Championships but will compete in the Tour de Ski over New Year’s.

After that, one goal stands out: World Championship gold in the sprint race in Trondheim!

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