Frida Karlsson has secured her second consecutive Olympic gold in cross-country skiing in Val di Fiemme. The Swedish skier dominated the 10-kilometer freestyle race and is being praised for her superiority. Her joy and form starkly contrast with her experience at the Beijing Olympics.
Frida Karlsson, 26, claimed her second consecutive Olympic gold by winning the 10-kilometer freestyle race at the Val di Fiemme Olympics. The victory came after a dominant performance where she felt carried by coaches and the crowd, in her own words. National team chief Anders Byström described her effort as an entirely new level: 'It is a completely new level that we have never seen the likes of before.' He stood gaping at her dominance and called the other competitors extras.
Karlsson arrived at the Swedish Olympic hotel in Panchià last Monday, following high-altitude training in Lavazè. Byström immediately noticed her glow: 'You could see right away how she just shone. It was like an aura around her, she was happy and positive in every way.' She was up early each morning to soak in the experience and thrived in the outdoor freedom, unlike the 2022 Beijing Olympics where the pandemic confined her. There, she felt like she was 'going out to war,' without the playfulness she needs to perform.
After her 30-kilometer world championship gold in Trondheim last year, Karlsson promised herself to rediscover the joy in skiing. Now she shines with a golden hat on her head and says: 'I am really living my best life right now.' She describes the Olympics as playtime with her best friends and looks forward to the relay and 30 kilometer. Her former classmate, biathlete Elvira Öberg, is not surprised: 'She was always a bit of a talent, so it is no big shock.'