Superstar in the cross-country skiing scene: Frida Karlsson. © AFP / JAVIER SORIANO

Star cross-country skier in fear: Her nightmare is back

Frida Karlsson is one of the most successful cross-country skiers in the world. But off the slopes, the Swede is once again confronted with a terrible chapter of her life.

August 18, 2026

From: det

At first glance, things are going well for Frida Karlsson. Very well, in fact. She's a cross-country skiing icon in Sweden, if not a national heroine. At the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the 27-year-old crowned her career with two gold medals. A few weeks ago, Karlsson also revealed her love life secret: She is in a relationship with a Swedish actor.

However, Karlsson is now being haunted by her unpleasant past: A stalker who made her life a living hell in recent years has returned.

Frida Karlsson is a national heroine in Sweden. © ANSA / Terje Pedersen

Flashback. A year ago, in April 2025, a then 64-year-old man was sentenced in the district court of the Swedish province of Ångermanland to a suspended sentence and a fine of the equivalent of 3.650 euros. A restraining order was also issued against him. The reason: For more than a year, he had been stalking Frida Karlsson.

7.000 photos and 200 calls

He allegedly sent her countless text messages, called her 200 times, and even booked a plane ticket to Tenerife, where the athlete was training at the time. More than 7.000 photos of the cross-country skier were found on his phone. Karlsson testified at the time that she no longer felt safe even at home.

Karlsson is one of the best cross-country skiers in the world. © AFP / JURE MAKOVEC

The conviction, however, had no effect. As has now come to light, the stalking continued even afterward. The man reportedly contacted Karlsson again as early as autumn 2025: by phone, text message, and Instagram. "It's been a year since it started again. We were at a camp in Tenerife at the time," Karlsson's mother, Mia, told the press. expressen.

A new lawsuit

According to the Swedish newspaper, the man was unaware of any wrongdoing during police questioning. "I wasn't aware that a restraining order had been issued against me," the man reportedly said. Expressen cited.

Now, charges are being brought against the stalker again, and the trial is scheduled for late autumn. How is Frida Karlsson coping with this situation? "She's handling it bravely. She's mostly afraid of the proceedings, as our legal system is incredibly complicated," said her mother, Mia Karlsson.