Several unnamed Swedish cross-country skiers have criticized national coach Anders Bystroem for communication issues and leadership shortcomings, according to an Expressen investigation. The complaints come despite the team's strong performance at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Some athletes are calling for a change in team leadership.
The investigation by the Swedish newspaper Expressen, published on Friday, reveals tensions within the Swedish cross-country skiing team. Athletes have anonymously highlighted a lack of communication, insufficient leadership, and questionable decisions in player selections. These issues persisted even after the team's excellent results at the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina.
A notable example involves Olympic sprint champion Linn Svahn. Following her gold medal win, Svahn reportedly discovered through a booked plane ticket that she would not participate in the final race of the Games. This incident underscores the communication challenges cited by the skiers.
National coach Anders Bystroem acknowledged the difficulties in an interview with Expressen. He stated, “communication is always a challenge,” but contextualized the criticism as typical end-of-season tensions in elite sports. Despite the successes, including Olympic medals, several skiers are advocating for new leadership at the helm of the national team.
The report does not name the dissatisfied athletes, emphasizing the anonymity of their complaints. This development follows the conclusion of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where Sweden achieved notable achievements in cross-country skiing events.
