Last February in the PyeongChang finish area, André Myhrer was waiting as only Henrik Kristoffersen was still at the start and knew that his chances for gold were good.
- It was quite an anti-climax when Henrik faltered at the fifth gate. What an awesome experience, André said, remembering the hectic but extremely fun day. I met the King, was photographed, received my medal, had a press conference and several interviews with the media.
- It wasn’t until late that night before I went to bed that it finally got to me what had happened. It was hectic and lovely in every way. Travelling to the Medals Plaza and receiving the medal is a special memory.
Maybe it is not that strange that it took longer than usual to reset the batteries for the new season
- Looking back at my career, I often have started the season with a feeling of revenge. I usually wait for that right feeling in the spring that tells me it is time to kick-start the new season. But that feeling didn’t come to me this year. Having the World Championships at home is probably what really got me going and helped get me focused.
Nevertheless, Myhrer's season started really well with a third place in Levi, Finland, behind his toughest competitors, Marcel Hirscher and Henrik Kristoffersson. Since Levi, André hasn’t finished on the podium, but he is not worried at all. After all, there is a big difference between the World Cup and major Championships. A medal at Åre is the one thing he is still missing in his palmares.
- It is special in many ways to be able to compete at the World Championships at home, not only once but twice. It is not something many ski racers experience and I think that the missing gold medal is what I am keen on.
At the 2007 Championship in Åre, Sweden was regarded as having “the world’s best men’s slalom team in the world” and the expectations were enormous on Markus Larsson, Jens Byggmark and André Myhrer. But it wasn’t the Swedish team’s best championship and Martin Hansson was the best Swede in 12thplace while Myhrer had to settle with a 22ndplace.
- I enter these Championships with a feeling of revenge from 2007. The whole team was in such good shape and it became an anti-climax for us.
Twelve years later, Myhrer has a chance of revenge to finally win an individual World Championships gold medal. He says that Åre 2019 is probably his last World Championships.
- I haven’t decided yet whether this is my last season, but the chance is that this is the last year. I appreciate being home with the family more than ever. Everyone who has children knows that it is tough to be away from them. I am gone almost 170 days a year and my wife bears a very heavy burden. It is probably not just my decision but the whole family's decision, he said and continued:
- I suspect that there will be a lot of family and friends in Åre on Sunday. And I might even leave the skis at the finish line and leave from there.