Commentary: This is only possible in Sweden – An unbearable blunder for Finland
The article discusses Finland's challenges in women's cross-country relay skiing, particularly in comparison to Sweden's successes.
The commentary highlights the recent struggles of Finland in women's cross-country skiing, particularly during the Olympic relay events. It notes Sweden's dominance in the field, especially after Sweden lost Olympic sprint champion Linn Svahn due to illness just before a crucial race. Finland's performance, particularly by athlete Jasmin Kähärä, did not meet expectations as they struggled during the relay phase, leading to poor results that were foreshadowed.
Sweden managed to secure a spot with a strong team, including Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist, who showcased their talent by winning earlier competitions. The article emphasizes Sweden's superiority during Olympic competitions, suggesting that if there could be more than one team from a country in relays, they might have achieved a double victory. In contrast, Finland's team faced limitations and challenges in matching this level of competition, notably with Kähärä's inability to handle the pressure during critical moments in the race.
The author also raises questions about team selections, pondering if other athletes like Kerttu Niskanen or Vilma Ryytty might have performed better under the circumstances. This highlights a broader discussion on strategy and athlete performance, underscoring Finland's pressing need to reassess its approach as it navigates the competitive landscape dominated by their Nordic neighbor, Sweden.