It is perhaps not surprising that there is Charlotte Kalla that tops SPORT-Expressen’s list of Sweden’s 100 hottest athletes this year.
Actually it is more surprising that there is the first time.
Ever since that climb up an Italian ski slope in January 2008 (with a snorting Gunde Svan at his side) has otherwise Charlotte Kalla had a given place among Swedish athletic big.
But never as number one.
The place has the last six years, rather than completely dominated by two well, right macho stuffed men.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic , six times.
Petter Northug , once.
But sorry , gentlemen.
Now the stage is important for some northern Girl Power .
“Gets very proud when I hear it “
– In the end it became pretty … embarrassing. A bit like “But God, how could I be so engrossed in it?”
Charlotte Kalla shaking smile on her head. And starts laughing.
The topic?
Girl Power .
“skämmiga” part of the subject?
Spice Girls.
– It was the first thing I thought of when you said the word. They belonged to the my childhood, primary school was the Spice Girls the coolest thing that was said Kalla.
And today?
– No, no. They are not on any playlist anymore.
Charlotte Kalla thinks for a while before she continues:
– Today, however, I think the word girlpower sounds good to my ears again. I live after all in such an environment where there are many girls who constantly stepping forward.
Self then? Do you feel as a female role model today?
– Yes, in a way, so I do not think so. And I am very proud when I hear that young girls are inspired by me.
Charlotte Kalla then talks about the importance of having female role models. Someone to identify with. Someone who had a dream – and then followed it.
What have been your own female role models?
– Lina Andersson when it comes to sports. Otherwise? Mom and my aunts, for example.
And among the more public figures?
– There are scores. But who should I say?
Charlotte Kalla becomes quiet. The seconds ticked by.
So in the end:
– But … fredagspodden with Hanna ( Widell ) and Amanda ( Schulman ) I think is inspiring, said Kalla.
Why?
– To the bjussar on themselves and still manages to retain its integrity. And dare bring up subjects they might themselves are not so very proud of.
Cold continues:
– I think it’s brave to be themselves even in public.
If we turn a little on the subject. Are there times when you felt unfairly treated because of you are a woman?
– Enough has been some situations, says Kalla.
When?
– Sometimes you are expected to take a role just because you’re a girl. Is treated differently. I can think about it, why do you always have to end up in that role.
Can you describe this “role”?
– Lite “Dad-talking-with-girl” role. Where it is understood that the man is so much better judgment. And you know that a guy would never be treated with the same tone.
It sounds patronizing. And belittling.
– Mmm, a little like that. As it would be obvious that men will always be those who govern, those who know best, those who know the most.
How do you react when stuff like that happens?
– I usually most feel that the “ Oops, now I ended up there again” . And then reflect on why this could be so.
Can you give a concrete example?
– No, says Charlotte Kalla.
And continues:
– I do not want.
“Never again known here”
Outside of Hotel Seehof panoramic windows in Davos knatar tourists past the pair of skis thrown over the shoulders of the road to the cabin lift some distance away.
The few Noting the dark-haired 27-year-old couch inside the window shows no sign of recognizing her.
– No, down here I never get recognized. And it’s very nice, says Charlotte Kalla.
In Sweden it is of course different.
Partly due to Olympic gold in Vancouver 2010. But perhaps above all dependent on two other occasions when Charlotte Kalla got the nation to almost stop:
January 6, 2008. Val di Fiemme, Italy .
Yep. That climbing the ski slopes again, with a roaring Gunde Svan at his side. Sweden’s first – and only – victory in the Tour de Ski. And it came as early as the age of 20.
February 15, 2014. Sochi, Russia .
The day when the impossible became reality. When the whole of the Olympic Games largest gold favorite (Norway) did not even get a medal – and instead Sweden won the Olympic gold for that outrageous final stretch.
– They are similarities between the two days, says Charlotte Kalla.
In what way?
– That it was so unexpected. I had not expected that we would win the relay. And the tour? It was the first time I was with. The goal was just trying to survive.
The time immediately afterwards these days then?
– There was a big difference. 2008 I never really had time to either reflect or respond at how big it would be. I just landed in everything at home in Sweden the day after. And it was dizzying.
– In Sochi, we were more who shared the attention. Eleven medalists on the plane home. And today, I have developed strategies to get everything I want it around me.
And become better at saying no.
– Exactly.
In the years that separates the victory in the Tour de Ski and the Sochi Olympics, the Swedish TV viewers had a long time to obtain a picture of Charlotte Kalla.
Just as they know the dazzling white smile after a success, as familiar is the black eyes when something has gone wrong.
– It is certain that many see me. But quite that black and white is not my
What image of yourself do you want to convey outwards?
– Well, last season was all about determination.
So what was it you wanted most of all?
– The major driving force was the dream of an individual Olympic medal. But today I almost never talk about the two Olympic silvren. They were of course overshadowed by the relay gold.
– But I dared to stick to my dream. And succeeded.
That you held on to your beliefs – and it gave two individual medals; Is that what you really are the most proud of in your whole career?
– Yes, that’s it.
As skier appears you after that extremely targeted. Are you one more insecure person in everyday life?
– Yes, definitely.
What is it that makes you insecure?
– Much depends probably on the way up with my success. On the way they made me a public person.
Now I understand not quite.
– Yes, but in any ways it feels like I’m forced to learn so much more about myself than a “regular person.”
I understand probably still not exactly what you mean.
– I think it is comparable to a person who is very successful in their professional lives. That takes great strides in his career, ends up in a high position. And once there is expected to have the answers to so much.
Okay. Now clears it. You talk about being constantly interviewed.
– Yes. And I can experience it as a hassle. For enough, I would of course be happy to answer any questions I get.
– But … I have not even asked myself the question before it can be very frustrating trying to find the right answer quickly, says Kalla.
It sounds a bit like going in constant analysis. Constantly having to answer questions about himself.
– A little so it will be. And it takes on the forces that constantly need to analyze and evaluate himself.
Charlotte Kalla has addressed a press conference three days earlier in Davos as an example.
We were nearly ten reporters in place. The whole thing was over in a so-so ten minutes. And in retrospect, I should be able to describe the press conference with words like “please”, “ordinary” and “new poor”.
But Charlotte Kalla describes something completely different.
– Afterward, I just felt “ What the hell? I was of course so much better mood yesterday? Why should this make me feel worse ?”
Yes, why? I experienced everything as just a rather unremarkable question and answer session. Such you have experienced hundreds of times before.
– I do not really know what it was. Can not say there was any single issue. But there was something.
Cold leans back on the couch.
– No, it is much nicer to just be yourself. Avoid having to hold on and speculate all the time.
Got struggling with motivation
The shooting takes place upstairs in the hotel. Charlotte Kalla looks as usual how comfortable out at any time before the Nils Petter Nilsson camera.
But then Charlotte Kalla had plenty of opportunities to exercise. In 2014 the awards and photo sessions have been a regular part of her everyday life.
– And it was not really grasp on when you went home from Sochi, said Kalla between flashes.
It might not only positive?
– Well, it is a fact that I still must live on in the success from last season. Though I’m from sometime in May just wanted to look forward.
A few days before the interview with Charlotte Kalla told Norwegian Marit Björgen me about his Swedish friend’s tough pre-season.
– I know that Charlotte had to work hard with the motivation of summer, said Norwegian.
Have Björgen right? Was it so?
– Yes. I think it was difficult, says Charlotte Kalla.
Why?
– There was so much fuss after the Olympics. So many great offer you really wanted to say yes to. It was tempting to not only practice, says Charlotte Kalla.
Was that even your toughest pre-season?
– Yes. In any case, given that it should have been obvious that the motivation would be sky high when there is a World Cup at home waiting.
– But it was not.
Now, it is December. The season is in full swing. In terms of results, it has started decently for Charlotte Kalla – but not more.
But Tärendös own superstar does not seem particularly stressed about the real top results failed to materialize. Perhaps because she not know how the last one ended.
With double Olympic silver.
With Olympic gold.
With Bragdguld.
And with a place at the top of the list of Sweden’s hottest athletes.
By the way, if you put together a list of the world’s hottest sports stars today. Who would be number one?
– Usain Bolt . It’s so cool to see how fast it is possible to run 100 meters. It would be cool to get to see him run in place sometime, says Kalla.
Speaking of superstars. You played some basketball in Tärendö in the 90s. What was the idol then? Michael Jordan, right?
– No, no. Then I thought it was cooler than the NBA to travel the 22 kilometers to Dubai and look at Plannja and Luleå Basket.
Really?
– Yes. And … Eric Elliott Plannja was actually an idol for me.
Interviews can stop in any way possible.
But this would end up with a small technical players from Michigan did I actually do not really get.
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