King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has offered a lighthearted comment regarding the dramatic fall of Swedish skier Ebba Andersson during the relay event at the Olympic Games held in Italy.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing the Aftonbladet newspaper, that the monarch made the remarks during a video call to the national team following the competition.
"You all did a fantastic job. And Ebba, she was absolutely magnificent! What a spectacular fall! I have never seen a skier fly through the air like that before," the King remarked during the call.
During the 4x7.5 kilometer relay, Andersson suffered multiple falls. Following her final tumble, she lost one of her skis and was forced to compete on a single ski for more than 30 seconds before recovering. Despite these challenges, the Swedish team secured the silver medal, narrowly losing the gold to the Norwegian team.
The Olympic Games serve as the pinnacle of international winter sports, where Sweden traditionally maintains a strong presence in cross-country skiing events. Such royal interactions are common in Swedish sporting culture, reflecting the monarchy's active support for the nation's athletes on the global stage. The silver medal adds to Sweden's historical success in the relay, a discipline that requires both individual resilience and team coordination.
