Frida Karlsson, after seven years of learning and adapting her approach, finally achieved her first gold medal in skiing by changing her mindset around stress and competition.
Frida Karlsson, a 26-year-old Swedish cross-country skier, has successfully transformed her approach to competition, leading to her first individual gold medal. According to her coach, it took Karlsson seven years to adapt her mindset and let go of the anxiety that surrounded championship events. She expressed that she no longer feels the same pressure during competitions, which has allowed her to perform better and achieve her goals in skiing.
Since her breakthrough at the Seefeld World Championships in 2019, Karlsson has faced stiff competition from athletes like Therese Johaug, Ebba Andersson, and Jonna Sundling during various championships held in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. Despite securing multiple silver and bronze medals leading up to the championships, she finally clinched her first individual gold medal during the concluding 50 km race at last year's Trondheim World Championships after 13 attempts in major competitions.
Now, having built on her success, Karlsson extended her winning streak at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, achieving a remarkable three golds in distance events, including a notable victory in the 20 km race with ski change and a 10 km race. Her performance has solidified her status in cross-country skiing, even after her recent silver medal in relay, allowing her to gain confidence and further propel her career in the sport.
