The last time the men won a medal, in the relay in 2017, it was with the experienced skaters Daniel Rickardsson, Johan Olsson and Marcus Hellner as the starting trio.
Only the finisher Calle Halfvarsson remains in the new generation that took over.
Just Halfvarsson and 22-year-old William Poromaa are the ones who have been closest this year, with fifth places as the best in the WC.
- If you look at how few of us ski in Sweden, it's not so strange that we sometimes have a generational change, and we are definitely in one now.
Williams' progress in the slot is slowly, slowly gaining ground, but he hasn't brought many others up there yet.
I think that is required if we are to get a good peak.
He must have resistance around him if he is to move on also from where he is today, Gunde Svan tells SVT Sport.
Happened in the 1990s
Should Sweden fail to take a medal on the men's side also in Planica, it will be the second time in history that they go three WCs in a row without a medal (previously it was the WCs in 1995, 1997 and 1999).
Svan believes that it is important that Poromaa succeeds so that young people have someone to look up to.
- I think role models are very important.
At least it was for me, with Thomas Wassberg leading the way and us other little guys coming and trying to push him down from there.
I think we must have that mentality in the Swedish men's national team, and then it is important that William shows that way because he is the closest right now.
That would mean a lot for men's skating in general on the men's side?
- Yes, I really think so.
We have some that are in the works.