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From: Anna Rydén, Petra Thorén
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RUKA. Maja Dahlqvist is back on the podium after a difficult year.
The energy was tired after adversity in private life where the break with the boyfriend was a factor that affected.
Now he pays tribute to coach Johan Granath, who saved his season.
– It was he who made me turn, says Maja Dahlqvist.
Maja Dahlqvist was relieved and happy after last Sunday’s sprint victory at Bruksvallarna. After the podium at the Ski World Cup, second place behind Linn Svahn, his eyes shone even more.
– If someone had told me two months ago that I would get on the podium in Ruka, I would have thought that I would not. You forget about yourself when the last month has gone well, but it’s still a real relief and I appreciate it almost more now that you’ve gotten out and learned from what happened, he says.
To understand the depth of their relief, we have to back the band. Maja Dahlqvist broke through two seasons ago and was successful at the World Cup. Last season, however, it turned unexpectedly difficult after she pushed the limits of training.
During the late winter, the results were reversed, but since last spring, more private setbacks have caused him to lose strength and focus on training.
– There were many different things that eventually became something important and so the training was reviewed. Then it was worse training, which was also part of the fact that it got boring, says Maja Dahlqvist.
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT
Maja Dahlqvist and her expo boyfriend Anton Hedlund.
Part of that turbulence consisted of breaking up with Anton Hedlund, a skier who also closely followed Maja’s run. Among other things, he was an on-site support during the WC in Seefeld 2019.
– That was one of the reasons. It was in the spring that it ended, says Maja Dahlqvist.
“He turned it over”
When privacy broke in, it was difficult to focus on skiing. The end of the summer was the worst, everything that had happened caught up. Eventually, the 26-year-old’s strength got tired and she could barely make it to training sessions.
– I thought it had turned out well, that I was alert but if I compare it with how it is now when I am alert, it definitely wasn’t. You lose perspective and it was nice to have someone look at it from the outside, says Maja Dahlqvist.
Coach Johan Granath was the one who caught his eye.
– It was he who made me turn, says Maja Dahlqvist and continues:
– He really is a whole for me and not just a coach. Both materialistic and mental trainer. He was the rescue for me.
How?
– It made me grab it and realize I couldn’t keep digging like I did.
Photo: Pontus Orre / Aftonbladet / TT
Johan Granath.
Has worked mentally
Maja Dahlqvist told Sportbladet earlier this fall how she worked mentally to reverse the trend.
– I had to work mentally. Break it into smaller pieces, take it day by day and step by step. I’ve set some intermediate goals in training and things like that, while also being kind to myself in training.
Now life feels so much easier.
– It’s much more fun, everything is fun everywhere. It’s fun to have so many happy with one. You have always thought that you have skiing, but in the end you don’t have the strength if you don’t have it if you don’t feel well.
Have you progressed since the breakup?
– Yes I think so. In general, he feels better, says Maja Dahlqvist, who after the success of the sprint is recharging for the distance training this weekend.
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