Stina Nilsson's shift from cross-country skiing to biathlon spread shock waves in the ski world. The Swedish sprint star's unexpected decision has been described as brave - but the Russian long-time manager Jelena Välbe thinks just the opposite.

- I will not follow Stina in biathlon. It is a girl with a very whimsical character, she says to the Russian newspaper Sport Ekspress, according to Norwegian VG.

Do not accept

Stina Nilsson, who was largely ruined by injuries this past season, has recently been challenged as Sweden's leading sprinter. Star shot Linn Svahn won the sprint cup followed by countryman Jonna Sundling in a season that had to end prematurely due to the corona virus.

This is something that Välbe believes contributed to Nilsson's decision to change sports.

- I think she simply couldn't accept that there were girls on the team who could beat her, she says.

"Can succeed"

One who thinks Stina Nilsson can succeed as a biathlete is Sweden's former competitor in the ski track, Natalja Neprjajeva.

- It came as a shock to me that she went over to biathlon. She might want to become Olympic champion in that too. Of course, there are opportunities for her and I think she can succeed, says the Russian according to VG.

At the beginning of the week it was clear that Stina Nilsson will immediately take a place in the Swedish biathlon team.

Her coach Jean-Marc Chabloz has described her as the greatest talent he has seen.