Six late summer evenings, the host Yvette Hermundstad meets the main characters in twelve selected sports classics, in a program from SVT Sport called Sommaröppet.

In the third program, Magdalena Forsberg talks about her definitive breakthrough in 1997 in the biathlon world championships in Slovakia. Forsberg came home to Sweden with two gold and one bronze and biathlon became a national affair for the first time.

- There was a huge uproar when I came home, it was really noticeable that this had had an impact. I really tried to stand up for everything and everyone because I got the chance to be seen now and biathlon as a sport got the chance to be seen, says Forsberg in Sommaröppet.

"I just cried and thought nothing was fun"

But Magdalena Forsberg's success would not end in 1997. The biathlete eventually became one of Sweden's most beloved athletes and ended her career with 42 World Cup wins and six World Cup golds. But the resurrection has not been entirely positive. "Magda" also tells of when the pressure on her became overwhelming in the early 2000s when her career was at its peak.

- When you win so many races, there is so much extra around, says Magda and remembers back to a competition in Italy when the press became too much.

- Then it was over. I got sick, I just cried and thought nothing was fun. It became too much all around and I could not handle it. I just cried even though I knew I really should be the happiest person in the world.

"It is highly unlikely that I would win a World Cup medal"

Despite her six gold medals at the World Cup, Magdalena Forsberg is sheltered from the program's second guest, Tony Rickardsson. In total, Masen won eleven World Cup golds during his long and successful career. In Sommaröppet, Rickardsson tells the big breakthrough and the first individual World Cup gold in Danish Vojens.

- You get a little moved and the emotions come back when you look at the pictures. It was highly unlikely that I would win a World Cup medal that year. I saw it as if I would be involved in learning and gaining experience, says Rickardsson in Sommaröppet.

The summer open with Forsberg and Rickardsson is broadcast at 20.00 on SVT1 on Monday the 3rd of August and can also be seen on SVT Play or in the player below.

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Tony Rickardsson and Magdalena Forsberg Photo: Johan Paulin