Moa Lundgren finished fourth in the 10 km classic at Gällivare's Swedish premiere, one minute and 16 seconds behind winner Ebba Andersson. The preseason has been tough for Lundgren, who lost three close people just weeks before the start. "It has been tough," says an emotional Lundgren.
In Gällivare's Swedish premiere on Saturday, Moa Lundgren competed in the 10 km classic and finished fourth, 1 minute and 16 seconds behind Ebba Andersson who won ahead of Moa Ilar. Lundgren has had a difficult preseason marked by grief and illness. Just weeks before the season start, during the national team camp in Vålådalen a couple of weeks ago, three people close to her passed away in the same week. She has also been hit by COVID.
After the finish line, Lundgren was emotional. "It has been tough," she says. "I have had a tough first week in November, where some people have left us. So it has been tough. But it is very fun to be here and be able to ski even though it hurts today too."
Lundgren describes the weekend as healing in some ways. "Yes, yesterday it was almost a bit healing that there was such a nice sunrise and sunset, it was very nice." She emphasizes that it gets better each day, but that it is not optimal for an elite athlete so close to the season premiere. "It gets better each day, but it is anything but an elite athlete's dream to not be able to do the training you want so close to the season start."
The event in Gällivare marks the start of the Swedish cross-country season, with several Swedish profiles in action.