A new pilot program in Sweden is attempting to blend elite athletics with military service, offering top cross-country skiers a pathway to fulfill their national obligations while continuing their training. Launched by teh Dalregiment – a unit that resumed conscription in 2022 – the initiative seeks to harness the dedication of these athletes for the benefit of the Swedish Armed Forces, building on a tradition dating back to the 1980s, though with a renewed focus given the current geopolitical landscape. The program, currently involving ten skiers born in 2005 and 2006, is already facing early challenges and adjustments as it seeks to strike a balance between athletic pursuits and military demands.
In Falun, Sweden, near the Lugnet Ski Stadium, a unique program is underway, blending elite athletics with national service. Dalregiment, a military unit that resumed conscription in 2022 after a 20-year hiatus, is piloting an initiative that allows top-level cross-country skiers to fulfill their military obligations while continuing their training. The program, involving ten promising athletes born in 2005 and 2006, aims to harness the drive of elite competitors for the benefit of the Swedish Armed Forces.
Regimental Commander Ronny Modigs explained the rationale behind the program, emphasizing the value of a winning mentality within the military. “In combat, there is no second place. War is that unforgiving,” he stated. The initiative was inspired, in part, by Nils Svensson (formerly van der Poel), who successfully completed infantry training in 2018-2019 before going on to win two Olympic gold medals at the 2022 Beijing Games.
The idea originated with then-Army Chief Karl Engelbrektson, who consulted with Swedish sports organizations to develop the pilot program launched in August. The goal, according to Modigs, is to address a challenge within Swedish sports: retaining elite athletes after they finish their sports-focused high school programs. This initiative aims to provide a “win-win” scenario, allowing athletes to continue their development while fulfilling their national service obligations.
The Armed Forces benefit from recruiting physically fit individuals, and the program seeks to identify and cultivate soldiers with the mental fortitude to succeed. The ten skiers receive one additional training session per week, supplementing the two already mandated for all conscripts. They are able to incorporate sport-specific training into their regular sessions, and the schedule is designed to allow participation in select competitions.
Alexander Engström Bjuredal, a 20-year-old skier, was on hand for the Sweden Premiere in Bruksvallarna last November. Now, a year later, he’s three months into his military service at Dalregiment. He noted that the group received their first dedicated training session, beyond the standard military fitness regimen, three months after enlisting. While he understood the program was new and untested, he had hoped for a more substantial training load.
“It’s a bit of a compromise for us this year,” he said.
The Swedish Sports Federation announced the project in a press release during the summer of 2024. “The transition from junior to senior is a crucial time for elite athletes, both athletically and financially. With sports conscription, new development environments are created for active training and competition – including the opportunity for a dual career and continued commitment as a senior,” said Hans von Uthmann, Chairman of the Swedish Olympic Committee, in the press release.
Engström Bjuredal, who attended the ski gymnasium in Mora, requested a transfer to the sports conscription program in Falun after being initially assigned to Östersund. He explained his goals for his skiing career: “I’ve always aimed to be the best. I’ve had some tough years, so I thought I’d spend another year training after high school. But then this came along, and I feel like I’m falling behind.”
The young skier noted that the group received feedback on how the project is functioning, and adjustments were made, such as an increase in evening snacks after they pointed out insufficient food options. “They say, ‘We’re trying to make it better.’ And you can see they are, they really are trying,” he said. Despite the program’s early stage, he wouldn’t recommend it to other athletes seriously committed to their skiing careers – at least, not in its current form.
“Conscription overall, I would recommend; I think it’s fun. But as an elite athlete, I don’t think it’s a good fit.”
In the 1980s, Gunde Svan achieved his first World Cup victory while performing his military service, and a 1999 article in Aftonbladet described skater Thomas Gustafsson’s military service as a training camp. Modigs believes that won’t be the case again, given the current geopolitical climate. “We don’t think that’s justified today, given the global situation. We need to focus more on combat units than we did then, because we’re drafting far fewer people now.”
Between 1967 and 2004, elite athletes could participate in so-called sports platoons, with a greater emphasis on training. The current version isn’t as well-suited for athletes already at the national level. “They probably wouldn’t choose this then. They’d take a different path, if they weren’t drafted,” Modigs said.
He believes some of the expectations surrounding today’s sports conscription are based on parents’ memories of the sports platoons. At the same time, he acknowledges that those currently involved in the pilot program received insufficient training early in their military service.
“We’ll adjust that part, so they can start training earlier than they did this year. That’s one of the things we need to review.”
Louise Wallin, 20, also participating in the program and a fellow ski gymnasium graduate from Mora, acknowledges that things haven’t been entirely smooth. “We’re helping to ‘pave the way,’ so it can be as good as possible and people can continue to pursue their sport. There are things to improve, but I’d say it’s heading in the right direction, and I definitely think it could become something very good,” she said.
Wallin plans to compete at the Swedish Championships this season. She noted that an exercise is scheduled just before the national championships, which will impact her preparation. “You’ll be a little tired. It will look a little different leading up to the competition. I haven’t set any goals, I’m just going to go and keep competing.”
Looking ahead, the plan is to expand this type of military service and involve more sports. Modigs said there is significant interest from other sports, with biathlon and orienteering potentially joining the program next. “We’re running this pilot for two years, with this volume. We already have a wealth of experience, which we’ll take care of next year. Then we’ll evaluate and see if it’s a solution for the future,” Modigs said.
When the project was launched, Anna Iwarsson, Chairman of the Swedish Sports Federation, said it would increase “the chances of future sports medals.”
Whether today’s sports conscripts will actually achieve those medals remains to be seen. Modigs again points to Nils Svensson as an example that military service can still be part of a successful elite athletic career.
“It will depend a lot on the individual to deliver on that. We’re giving them a better opportunity than they would have had if they’d been drafted as regular soldiers,” said the Dalregiment’s regimental commander.
