Feb 18 • 09:10 UTC 🇸🇪 Sweden SVT Nyheter

Swedes Completely Superior in Sprint Relay Qualifiers: 'Unnecessarily Fast'

Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist led the Swedish women's team to a strong performance in the sprint relay qualifiers, finishing well ahead of their competitors.

During the sprint relay qualifiers at the upcoming Olympics, Swedish sprinter Jonna Sundling showcased a dominant performance, almost catching up to Norwegian competitor Astrid Öyre Slind. Starting her leg 15 seconds behind, Sundling finished 12.43 seconds ahead, prompting commentators to question whether she was racing too aggressively in preparation for the challenges ahead. Her speed in the prologue raised concerns about sustainability for the remaining heats, considering there are two more rounds to compete in this event.

Astrid Öyre Slind, who started ahead of Sundling, acknowledged her fierce competition but indicated that it might not have appeared optimal due to Sundling's rapid pace. The discussions among analysts underscore the fine line athletes must walk between speed and endurance, particularly in a demanding event like the sprint relay, which will see competitors racing multiple times in quick succession during the Olympics.

On the men's side, Johan Häggström and Edvin Anger also advanced to the finals, finishing as the twelfth team among fifteen, trailing behind the USA by 9.48 seconds. They expressed a sense of satisfaction with their performance but recognized areas for improvement, particularly in their tactical approach. Overall, the success of the Swedish teams sets a promising tone as they head into the finals, hoping to build on their track records from previous competitions, including their silver medal performance four years ago at the Olympics.

📡 Similar Coverage