Andersson crashed out of the fight for medals in the World Championship 50K after a tangle with her teammate Frida Karlsson just a few hundred meters before the finish. Karlsson took gold, while Andersson finished fourth.

After crossing the finish line, the 27-year-old was dejected, heartbroken, and furious.

– What hurts the most is that I felt so strong. I had prepared and executed this race exactly as planned, and then, in just a split second, everything changes, and I don’t even get the chance to fight for a medal all the way to the finish.

Andersson leaves the World Championships in Trondheim with three gold medals—two of them individual distance titles—and a fourth-place finish.

Support from Her Boyfriend Means Everything

But Andersson found comfort in her boyfriend, Gustaf Berglund, who himself placed eighth in the men’s 50K on Saturday.

– You feel for Ebba. She was really upset, and she sat in the finish area for a long time, just staring blankly. You try to comfort her. The question is what kind of support she needs—I’ll have to figure that out, Berglund told Expressen.

As a World Championship debutant, he had experienced a similar situation when he fell during the relay in his very first championship race.

Andersson deeply appreciated the support from her boyfriend.

– He is often my safe haven in life. And today is no different, she said.

The couple has been together for three years. It all started when Gustaf Berglund invited Ebba Andersson over for milk and cinnamon buns. Afterward, they went for a walk together—and they have been a couple ever since. Since last fall, they have also been living together.

Read More: Frida Karlsson wins 50km mass start at the Trondheim World Championships

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