The Olympics in Italy resulted in ten medals for the national ski team. Nevertheless, large parts of the squad left the Winter Games dissatisfied, and the emotions centered around national team manager Anders Byström.
The criticism included lack of communication, weak leadership and the handling of Linn Svahn during the Olympics.
The opinions were initially internal but eventually reached the Swedish media, and became a media drive - as the Swedish Ski Association's cross-country director Lars Öberg has chosen to call it. He believes it "significantly influenced" Byström.
He felt singled out. That the negative aspects of him were communicated one-sidedly, that's what he expressed to me, he says.
I think it became very one-sided. Although people may need to improve and develop, the coin always has many sides.
“Many calls”
Öberg felt that it was important to continue with the ongoing and major evaluation, which the association calls 360. In connection with this, it emerged that the national team manager did not want to continue.
We have had many conversations with each other over the last few weeks. What we have talked about and how the dialogue has been is between Anders and me.
Byström:
It's clear that the media coverage hasn't made things better, he tells Radiosporten and tells Expressen what has been the toughest thing to deal with.
To receive anonymous criticism in the media from people you have worked closely with, who you respect and with whom you thought you had a good dialogue, that you need to go that route instead of actually talking to each other... It takes quite a toll.
Missed birthdays
Byström is stepping down now to give someone else the chance to invest in the 2030 Olympics.
I've made the decision myself. When I see how much I've been away, my daughter's birthday is in February and I've missed all of her birthdays for the last ten years.
Lars Öberg says that they already have some leads in the search for a new national team manager, but also insists that those who apply via the advertisement are included on equal terms.
The union also knows what type of leader they are looking for.
In addition to personal qualities, it is of course leadership and clarity that are highly sought after.
Men's coach Anders Högberg is also leaving. Women's coach Stefan Thomson, who has held the role for eight years, is leaving his position; he had previously decided to step down.
