Moa Lundgren Faces Heartbreak as She Withdraws from World Championships

Moa Lundgren found herself at a crossroads, yearning for one last opportunity to secure a spot at the World Championships. However, during the quarterfinals, she encountered hurdles that left her with no options.

In a post-race interview with SVT Sport, emotions overwhelmed her as she reflected, "If you can’t go faster than this, you shouldn't be there."

The Swedish athlete has faced a notoriously turbulent season. Initially diagnosed with appendicitis, she later learned that the inflammation was misidentified. Despite these setbacks, she has notably been leading the Scandinavian Cup and made her World Cup season debut just last weekend.

Today’s sprint was critical, given that it held the key to her potential selection for the World Championship team. Unfortunately, Lundgren finished third in her quarterfinal, resulting in her elimination.

"I’m quick off the start, but then it feels like suddenly everything slowed down. It felt like a vicious circle. I didn’t feel completely finished when I crossed the line. It was strange," she expressed, voicing her disappointment.

In light of her recent performance, she has all but resigned herself to missing out on the World Championships in Planica. "It’s really disappointing, but I’ve been through this twice before. When we start talking about it, the emotions come to the surface," she said emotionally.

Still, Lundgren isn’t ready to call it quits just yet. "It’s still only January, so there are plenty more races to come. Hopefully, I can return in better shape. There are races ahead, and hope remains," she noted, looking forward to what lies ahead.

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