Linn Svahn Criticizes Questions About Her Performance

Originally published in SVT Sport on January 01, 2025

Swedish cross-country skier Linn Svahn has had a difficult experience during the ongoing Tour de Ski, where her results have not reflected her training efforts. In an interview with a SVT reporter, she voiced her irritation over questions regarding her commitment to continue the competition, retorting that such inquiries were completely disrespectful. "Helt bedrövliga frågor, säger hon i intervjun," which translates to "Completely terrible questions," she stated in her response

Despite starting the Tour de Ski with a shocking quarterfinal exit in the sprint event, Svahn has been struggling to find her pace. After four stages, she currently sits in 15th place, trailing leader Astrid Øyre Slind by 4 minutes and 15 seconds.

In today's pursuit, Svahn finished as the 19th finisher, over three minutes behind the winner Øyre Slind. Although she managed to overtake two skiers in the race, she lost significant time to the racers ahead.

Svahn remarked, "Det känns bättre än vad det går," indicating that she feels better than the results suggest. She refrained from commenting on potential gear issues, stating, "Vet inte. Jag kommer inte kommentera något om det."

In conclusion, as she faced challenging questions about her performance, Svahn pointed out the daily struggles that come with the Tour, noting that each race presents a fresh opportunity to improve her standings. After her interview with SVT, it’s evident that the importance of respect in sports journalism remains paramount in the dealings with athletes.