Linnéa Claeson, social commentator, former elite handball player and Lidingöloppet debutant

a woman with colorful hair is sitting on the floor .

Hi Linnéa, you are going to run the TCS Lidingöloppet 15 km. How do you feel?

-Really fun and very thrilling. It's my first race so I don't quite know what to expect. As a handball player, you usually run a maximum of 20 meters at a time, so a long cross-country race will be challenging!

It will surely go well. You have a solid sports background after all. Tell me!

-Yes, I started playing handball when I was 10 years old. Before that, I was mostly involved in horseback riding and theater. By the age of 12, I had decided to focus on handball, which led me to gold at the Junior and Under-21 World Championships, the Swedish national finals, and a professional career in Denmark. It was incredibly fun.

And then have you continued to train?

-Yes, I have always found it fun to train a lot and especially in the gym. I love to beat my own records and find it exciting to push and challenge myself. It's also nice to feel that the body is capable and can handle various things. Then it's good to exercise so that you can treat yourself to an ice cream now and then!

You were also on Superstars on TV!

-It was also nerve-wracking but extremely fun. I was up against a bunch of Olympic medalists but I discovered that my competitive instinct went quite far. Still, I felt like we were all one team trying to achieve something and the thing I take with me the most is that I made several very good friends.

You are also very committed to everyone's equal value and rights!

-It's something I'm very passionate about, on all levels. This is especially true for sports, particularly for children and adolescents. Sports were incredibly important to me when I was younger, and I know they are for many others, not least for girls. It's about the social aspect, learning to interact in a group, health of course, and that includes mental well-being, but also learning to fight, to sometimes win and sometimes lose. I wish that all young people could be a part of sports.

But sports can also be tough sometimes?

-Absolutely, and when it comes to children and adolescents, we adults have a great responsibility. All children are the responsibility of all adults. We must ensure that they are safe while we help them become resilient individuals. The right leader can do an incredible amount for children and young people!

Back to TCS Lidingöloppet, what are you most looking forward to?

-The whole experience, I believe! To come to Lidingö and feel the sense of community before, during, and after the race. To pin on a bib number and feel proud as I cross the finish line. I look forward to limping home suitably tired but happy and proud.

How do you think it's going?

-Oh, I don't know, as I said I haven't done this before. I'm thinking I'll just try to get around, but then I'll surely get carried away and give it my all. That's so typical of me. But it'll be fun! I'll fight anyway and we'll see how it goes.

You should not only run but also talk a little on our stage program!

-Yes, that will be fun too. On Friday afternoon around 3 pm, I'll talk a bit about sports, what it's like to be a Lidingöloppet debutant, and that I think it's important for everyone to be included. It would be great if some people come and listen.