SOK's talent developer Wolfgang Pichler, who is primarily known as the biathlon coach who was behind, among others, Magdalena Forsberg's successes and the 2018 Olympic medals, has worked closely with Nils van der Poel for the past year.

But the fact was that due to another meeting he did not see Nils van der Poel's 10,000 meter race, and the subsequent drama when he took the gold medal at the all-round WC in Hamar, Norway today.

"Did he win?"

Therefore, he asked SVT Sport how it went, when we called him shortly after the gold medal, how it went.

He won!

- Did he win?

Yes, he came far ahead of Patrick Roest.

- Oh!

I only saw his 1,500 meter race, and then I thought "It will be difficult!"

But that he won, it's absolutely incredible!

- It is impressive.

He is impressive!

"Had no money before"

The competition was Nils van der Poel's last as an elite skater.

At least for this time, as he has now decided to end his elite venture.

And Wolfgang Pichler thinks it's over.

- I think so.

If he's smart, he's quitting now.

He has done such a good job now and has trained so hard.

And for me, it is very important to make the Swedes understand that if you want something, you can do it.

And he showed it.

He has shown all young people that if you train hard you can do everything, says Pichler, and adds:

- He had no money before, and has done many things on his own with just a little support from SOK.

He has not had the same support as his competitors.

- I am so happy that he won today, but for me it is even more important that he has shown all other young Swedes that it works.

Rank this higher than Olympic gold

Wolfgang Pichler ranks this even higher than the two Olympic gold medals.

- This was the gold with a capital G. This is more impressive, says Pichler, who has some wishes for Nils van der Poel's future life:

- I hope he gets a really good life and earns a lot of money.

What do you think he will do?

- I think he will do many crazy things.

Paragliding and all that.

He should have fun, and in two years he might feel that life without skates is not so good and will come back with energy to do great again.

But now I think he should take it easy, have fun, celebrate a lot and make money.