Many Swedes are great sport-lovers. And surprisingly for a country with a small population, they’re relatively successful. Right now, winter sports are in focus as Sweden hosts the World Championship in Cross-Country Skiing.
It’s hard to believe when you’re sitting in sunny, un-icy Stockholm that there is any snow elsewhere in the country. But there is and today, Sweden won gold! Popular skier Charlotte Kalla demolished the competition and won a gruelling 10km race in pouring snow. She won with a 41 second margin, which is significant in this sport and she slammed the Norwegians who normally rule the roost in cross-country ski sports.
A glimpse at the current media gives an indication of how important this is to Swedes and what an acheivement it is:
‘GOLD EXTRA! Kalla – a Dream come true!’
‘Kalla’s Gold crush – now she’s the best’
‘Charlotte Kalla’s magnificent gold achievement’
‘Gold! She crushed the opposition!’
‘Kalla crushed the competition at her favourite distance race’
With all this crushing, it’s easy to see that this is huge in Sweden – a victory on home turf – and in that moment Charlotte Kalla just became the nation’s powerhouse sweetheart.
Watching the Swedes 