Swedish skier Ebba Andersson has decided to skip the World Cup events this weekend in Lahti in favor of participating in long distance races. According to a statement by coach Byström, while they want their skiers to compete in the World Cup and aim to have the best team available, they respect individual choices and do not want to force athletes to compete. Andersson’s absence is noted as disappointing, but it also opens the door for other athletes to take her place on the team.

The decision comes after Andersson experienced illness following her gold medal win at the World Championships in Val di Fiemme. She had also missed last weekend’s World Cup competitions in Falun due to health issues. Byström mentioned that while some team members are returning from sickness, others like Edvin Anger still have not fully recovered and will also miss the upcoming competitions.

With the team for Lahti now being finalized, there’s a mix of experienced athletes returning from sickness, such as Jonna Sundling and Calle Halfvarsson, which suggests a competitive roster despite Andersson’s absence. The Swedish ski community will be keeping an eye on the performances of those filling in, while Andersson continues her focus on long distance events.