Since the last Olympics, Swedish sprint skiing has lost Stina Nilsson, Hanna Falk and Ida Ingemarsdotter.

On top of that, Linn Svahn is long-term injured.

It would create holes that would be impossible to fill in any national team - but not in the Swedish.

Gunpowder package

When I made a film in 2015 about Toini Rönnlund - the first Swedish ski woman to win the Olympics - we visited a training session with the ski high school in Lycksele.

There was a skier who flew up the slopes.

When we looked for a while, Toini came forward and said: "you are a real powder package!"

By then, Jonna Sundling had won the junior WC with a larger margin of victory than anyone had done before her and she attracted the attention of the old champion in that training.

Now she is also an Olympic champion - 54 years after Toini won the first gold.

The way to win was almost a copy of what she did eight years ago, as a junior.

Wrong timing?

When I saw her intermediate time after 600 meters in the qualifiers today, I thought there was something wrong with the timing.

I soon realized that was not the case.

This was another such day when the gunpowder package Sundling fired off explosion after explosion that no one else was near.

At a proper distance, the dominant in the World Cup season, Maja Dahlqvist, also managed to fight for the silver in a rough lead that does not favor her way of skiing.

How is that possible?

It can of course be a coincidence that so many skilled sprinters come forward.

Unique individuals who happen to be in the same sport at the same time.

Successful system

It can also be a successful system that Sweden has reaped the fruits of for a long time.

In the early 2000s, Swedish national team coaches - most notably Ola Ravald - began to curiously explore and develop methods to train the new branch of sprint.

This led to early successes with World Cup gold for Thobias Fredriksson and Emelie Öhrstig.

Olympic gold for Björn Lind and sprint relay teams for both men and women.

Since then, Sweden has almost always had successful sprinters.

More behind the medalists

Behind today's medalists was also Emma Ribom in the final.

Johanna Hagström was close to a medal at the World Cup last year - but did not place now.

Anna Dyvik disappeared in the quarterfinals today but is on good days with and fighting for podium places.

And behind are fresh junior world champions.

A lot has happened in 20 years and riding, materials and training methods have been developed.

But the leading position Sweden twisted when a wave started that new coaches and new skiers surfed on to the achievement in Beijing.

SEE MORE: Here Jonna Sundling wins Olympic gold in superior style

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Swedish double winner in ski sprint Photo: Henrik Montgomery / TT