Stena Nelson is preparing for her third year as a female athlete.
Last season, the 29-year-old hit the podium but also in some really bad races.
– I think people have realized by now, my riding profile is like this, says Stena Nelson.
Summer didn’t start in the best way Stena Nelson. The PCR test came back positive and the 29-year-old had to leave Greece even before the training camp started.
– It was hard, I went for about two weeks. I’m not terminally ill but still inactive so it takes a while to get the system up and running, but I’m not discouraged by it now at all, I feel like I’m in a good phase, says Stena Nelson.
Nelson’s big success last season came on March 5, when the cross country skier climbed to the podium for the first time in a World Cup after just one failure at Kontiolahti. When the time came, Nelson broke into a big smile.
– That means I got on the podium. It was very interesting to see, when all was well, how far I could go. It was so much fun that that was enough to get third place.
How many times have you thought about it?
– But actually many times. I was there too and fought for victory. It was like five seconds, like, “Are you kidding me?” Nelson says it was pretty cool.
“no pain”
But it wasn’t just places on the podium and a full-on shooting for the 29-year-old. Ultimately in Oslo, Nelson finished 16th in the race, 39th at the chase start and 30th in the mass start.
– It’s the top or bottom, I was there as a cross-country skier. I could have had great races and have races that were really bad. Nelson explains that when I’m in a “mood” I don’t feel pain in my body, and if I don’t feel it, I have it.
Do you think it’s good that the interest around you has worn off a bit?
– Yes, but I think so. It was very noisy but it subsided a bit. It’s no stranger to come to the fender and shoot and then I think people have recognized my riding profile. The fact that I took that third place made it so much calmer for those around me, it seems.
What are your goals for the next season?
– I’d rather go to the World Cup and I really want to do it in my contiola, says Nelson with a smile.
