Cross-Country Skiing: Linn Svahn Suffers Concussion and Withdraws from World Championships

Cross-Country Skiing: Linn Svahn Suffers Concussion and Withdraws from World Championships

Originally published in SVT Sport on February 27, 2025

Linn Svahn Suffers Concussion and Withdraws from the World Championships

Swedish cross-country skier Linn Svahn has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not be competing at the World Championships in Trondheim. The incident occurred during training on Wednesday when she fell. Following an evaluation by the team doctor, Rickard Noberius, it was decided that the 25‐year-old athlete should withdraw from the competition.

According to Noberius, although Svahn is otherwise in good condition, she still experiences symptoms such as headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light. "It will take at least one week—often longer—before she can get back on the track," he explained. Coach Stefan Thomson added, "It feels like there's a curse over the championships," reflecting the disappointment of the coaching staff.

Svahn, who previously competed in the 2021 World Championships despite a serious shoulder injury and missed the 2022 Olympics, had managed to achieve two fourth-place finishes in the 2023 Championships. She will be replaced in today’s sprint event by Märta Rosenberg.

This incident marks a major interruption for the Swedish sprint team just ahead of the high-level international competition in Trondheim.