“”Have seen the Frida since she was a baby – it was the tears””
“Marie-Helene ”Billan” Östlund on Frida Karlsson’s success, the similarities and the secret trick to succeed”
“A breakthrough without equal.”
“Frida Karlsson has presented itself with a bang in the cottages.”
“But what should we compare with? Stina, Charlotte? Or perhaps, ”Billan” Östlund’s guldyra in Oberstdorf, 1987.”
“– When you come home to the small town of Sollefteå took what you started, ” says Östlund, past the Westin, in a long interview with Sportbladet.”
“We are back to the February 20, 1987: A stubborn cross-country skiers in the Swedish dress crosses the finish line as number one on the tvåmilen in Oberstdorf and win the world CHAMPIONSHIP gold medal from nowhere.”
“That, ”Billan” Östlund – which was then called the Westin – not had any expectations of themselves is a lie, yet it is a lie to say that the then 20-year-old Sollefteå-the rider was known to the public when she, with the number 50, crossed the finish line first in the German world CUP-the city.”
“Breakthroughs in the Swedish skiing, large and small, have come and gone since then, but never have two such phenomenal world CUP performance reminded so much about each other as ”Billans” gold in 1987 and Frida Karlsson’s silver over 10 kilometres in Austria on February 26, 2019 – 32 years and six days later.”
“– Yes, it was a kind of feeling: we knew she was good. But she was so good, I had not expected. Ago, proved she is in the relay that she belongs up there among the very best, ” says Östlund over the phone to Sportbladet.”
“An unparalleled achievement”
“the Relay, yes. Where was Karlsson won the gold two days after the silver in the 10 km.”
“She and her husband Erik Östlund, operates a restaurant in the vicinity of Söderhamn and Bollnäs, Hälsingland. From there they followed Frida’s world CUP with great interest.”
“– It is inconceivable. She goes to her first championship, and becomes the fifth, taking the silver, and then gold in the relay. I have no words…, ” says ”Billan” and then it gets quiet for a long while.”
“really, You have no words?”
” No, actually not.”
“they both are from the town of Sollefteå, broken through with a bang from nowhere in the world CUP context as 19 – and 20-year-old and taken a medal in their first major championship at the senior level is not the only thing the two athletes have in common.”
“Marie-Helene Östlund has, in Hudiksvall name, also a SM-gold in the team sprint – with Frida’s mother and The coach – Mia Karlsson. Thus, the family Östlund and family Karlsson more than just acquainted with each other.”
” I have bombed her (Mia) with text in the days here. I have seen Frida since she was a baby. It is a special feeling for me also. There were tears and goose bumps and all what to say. It was so damn lovely, ” says Östlund.”
“the Future – a celebration or hard work?”
“But how do you go on after a transformation from unknown to national celebrity on one, or a few, nights?”
“For the ”Billan” Östlund, it was not always so simple. To speak with the media and be seen in the limelight was nothing that belonged to the commonplace and Östlund has often been mentioned as timid and shy.”
“In a tv-interview after gold in Oberstdorf, she said the following:”
” I understand enough, not really what I asked. But I learn enough to understand when I come home, I think.”
“…and how would you describe your gold today?”
” I didn’t really understand then how great it was. With ago when you came home to the small town of Sollefteå so you understood how large it was. It was very, very large. It was inside a bubble. Once you go you know what to do, and focus on the right things, but then… it was an aha-experience.”
“How did you experience the time after the gold?”
” It was a huge, huge change for my part. Nothing was the same afterwards. All cared as well as what I was when I was at the grocery store.”
“What is Frida doing in order to not be carried away by the hubbub around her?”
” I don’t think will have any problem standing still with both feet on the ground. Leif and Mia are awesome parents. She has been the calm after the dad and tjurskallen after the mother. She will not have any problems.”
“Just your feet on the ground mean Östlund is the key to continued success for the 19-year-old listed. It, and a little protection around it. Something that she had not experienced for yourself.”
“In a Swedish skidtrupp with Torgny Mogren, Gunde Svan and Thomas Wassberg low certainly the absolute favorittrycket not on the ”Billan”, but on the women’s side, she was the one who had to bear the expectations on his shoulders after the world CUP-the gold.”
“– I thought It was really hard. And then I was not the person who was most forward. I apologized for standing in the centre and in the mass media. I was inexperienced, and the only girl who got to wear favoritskapet. What I think is so good in the day is they are so many people who can relieve each other with the heavily fancied teams. We have sprinttjejerna – Jane, Maja, Stina. Then we have the Cold, Ebba, Frida as distansåkare. There are so many who can relieve each other and encourage each other, saying ”Billan”, whose gold medal in Oberstdorf was her only mästerskapsguld in their career – even if the silver in Val di Fiemme, also hit a high.”
“– It was like a gold for me. I proved to myself I could stand on the podium again. But there is never anyone to talk about it.”
“What do you think Frida has chances to continue to develop and stand on the podium in major championships?”
“– I think It will not be any problems.”
“Österåsen – ”where the magic happens””
“Karlsson will by all accounts continue to train for the world cup and mästerskapsframgångar – including at home in the Österåsen in Sollefteå. A place that also brought both modern stars (Sebastian Samuelsson and Ebba Andersson) as the previous.”
” Where I grew up. Where are my parents at home. So, in the where the mountains and the slopes, I have run and gone for the rollerski many miles, ” says Östlund, who in 1995 was forced to put off due to heart problems.”
“But before it got Marie-Helen ”Billan” Östlund, overnight, turn into forever in the Swedish skidpublikens hearts – 20 years old, from the town of Sollefteå.”
“Frida Karlsson, 19, from Carlow, has just made the same trip. “
“the only Question is – how far will it carry?”
“When the world CUP is decided in 2021, is the scene – that’s right – German Oberstdorf. “
“Live: Segersta (place in the province of Hälsingland)”
“Do: run a restaurant and conference Kungsholmen in stockholm together with her husband, Erik Östlund, who was also the elite skiers.”
“the Main merit: Gold medal in the 20 kilometers in Oberstdorf in 1987, 20-year-old.”
“Do: Skiers in the Swedish world CUP squad.”
“the Current of which: Gold and silver in the Seefeld 2019, 19 years old.”
“✓ ”Billans” greeting to the family Karlsson.”
“I would like to congratulate the whole family. She has such enormous support from home. So I would like to congratulate Fanny, Hanna, Leif, Mia and Frida. I would like to give them a big hug. It is actually a team work.””
