TESERO, Italy – The Swedish national team has announced its lineup for the upcoming cross-country skiing events at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with Frida Karlsson poised to lead the women’s team in the 50km skiathlon. The announcement comes after a period of uncertainty regarding team selection due to illness and fitness concerns within the squad. Several athletes have already departed the Games, impacting the final roster.
The women’s team will consist of Karlsson, Ebba Andersson, Emma Ribom, and Jonna Sundling for the grueling 50km race. Notably absent from the lineup are Linn Svahn and Moa Ilar, both of whom have returned home. According to women’s team coach Stefan Thomson, Svahn’s departure is due to illness that surfaced earlier in the week. “Linn Svahn has gone home. She went home yesterday after feeling unwell at the beginning of the week. The decision has been made for her to return home,” Thomson stated.
On the men’s side, Gustaf Berglund, Calle Halfvarsson, Johan Häggström, and William Poromaa will compete in the 50km skiathlon. Edvin Anger will not participate, with men’s team coach Lars Ljung citing both sporting and medical reasons for the decision. “Edvin has had a tough championship. There were sporting and medical question marks ahead of the 50km. He has been very tired in his airways,” Ljung explained during a press conference on Friday.
The Swedish team had previously considered recalling Alvar Myhlback, who had already left the Olympics, but ultimately decided against it. Anders Byström, the national team coach, explained, “We spoke with Alvar, but as you’ve seen, he’s now fully in Vasaloppet mode. So, flying here to do a 50km was not feasible.” The Vasaloppet is a famed long-distance cross-country ski race held annually in Sweden.
This selection process highlights the challenges teams face during major championships, balancing athlete health, form, and strategic considerations. The Swedish team, already celebrating Frida Karlsson’s gold medal in the women’s 10km + 10km skiathlon on February 7th, will be looking to build on that success as the Games progress.
The Swedish women’s team has emerged as a dominant force in Olympic cross-country skiing at the Milan Cortina Games, winning seven of nine medals so far, according to the Associated Press.
The women’s 50km skiathlon is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM on Sunday, even as the men’s race will start at 11:00 AM on Saturday. Swedish broadcaster SVT will provide live coverage of both events.
As the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina draw to a close, all eyes will be on the remaining cross-country skiing events, particularly the 50km races. The Swedish team, despite the late changes to its lineup, remains a strong contender for further medals. The focus now shifts to supporting the athletes who will compete and witnessing their performances on the final weekend of competition.
What are your thoughts on the Swedish team selections? Share your predictions for the 50km skiathlon in the comments below!
