— The atmosphere at Lugnet is always magical. The World Championships next winter will be something truly special.
That’s according to Falun–Borlänge skier Maja Dahlqvist, who impressed last weekend with one victory and two fourth-place finishes at the World Cup competitions in Davos.
Maja Dahlqvist is one of Sweden’s most accomplished cross-country skiers. Her World Championship record includes three gold medals and two bronze. At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, she claimed two silver medals and one bronze in her three starts.
In fact, she has never left an international championship without a medal.
Her World Championship debut came in Seefeld, Austria, in 2019. But she also had a role during the World Championships in Falun in 2015:
— My dad ran the party tent downtown, so I had to step in a few evenings to make sure the floor didn’t break, haha. The atmosphere was fantastic, both in the tent and up at Lugnet during the races. I was there and watched a few competitions, but then I headed off to compete in the Scandinavian Cup in Latvia and Estonia, says Dahlqvist, who made her World Cup debut earlier that same winter.
She didn’t race in Falun back then, but since then she has competed in no fewer than 18 World Cup races at Lugnet.
— It’s the best venue and has the best atmosphere of the entire World Cup season. And of course, it’s extra special because I have family and friends there cheering me on. Plus, it’s a big advantage knowing the course inside and out, says Dahlqvist.
A year ago, she and her partner Kevin Bolger moved to Trondheim to prepare for last winter’s championships:
— It was a really great experience, and the whole year felt “just right.” The atmosphere at the stadium there was also magical, and it felt like a lot of people were cheering for us. But I’m convinced there will be even more when it’s time for the World Championships in Falun, Dahlqvist says with a smile.
And the 31-year-old has every reason to smile given her strong start to the World Cup season. Last weekend, she and Jonna Sundling won the team sprint in Davos. She has also finished third in the season-opening sprint in Ruka and placed fourth in both the individual sprint and the 10 km race in Davos.
These results mean that she has now secured her ticket to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Val di Fiemme.