Kranskulla and Kransmas appointed for Vasaloppet and Tjejvasan 2017
Now it's decided! The Kranskulla for 2017 is Lydia Sundin, active in IFK Mora athletics club, and the Kransmas is Linus Rapp, active in IFK Mora's orienteering club.
"I'm incredibly stoked," says Lydia Sundin and Linus Rapp agrees:
"It feels incredible. I've dreamed of this for many years."
Friday morning, as tradition would have it, saw the presentation of the 2017 Kranskulla and Kransmas in Swedish Television’s Gomorron Sverige. Lydia Sundin will be the 93rd Kranskulla and Linus Rapp the 29th Kransmas.
Lydia Sundin has been appointed Kranskulla for 2017 with the following motivation:
”This year’s Kranskulla is a genuine primal force from Mora and a role model for young athletes. She has, at all times, full focus on whatever task she takes on, and has for many years been a natural part of the Vasaloppet organization. Both on and off the athletic arena, she loves to help other individuals and, in particular, unaccompanied refugee children in difficulty. Lydia Sundin is the obvious choice for Kranskulla and she will be a strong ambassador for Vasaloppet this coming year.”
Bo Johansson and Tommy Höglund, Competition Managers Vasaloppet
Lydia Sundin, Kranskulla 2017
Age: 22 (born July 29, 1994)
Residence: Mora
Family: Mother Maria, father Lars, big brother Axel and little sister Alma
Occupation: Works as a personal assistant and substitute at a care home for unaccompanied refugee children
Sports: Athletics, primarily discus but also some shot put
Merits: Fourth in the athletic National Championship and third in the junior National Championship 2016, selected for the national junior team for the international Nordic-Baltic Championships in August 2016
Athletic goals: To get as good as possible and reach the big international competitions; the Olympics are the dream
Interests: Weight lifting and powerlifting, also painting and photographing
Describe yourself with three words: Happy, positive, energetic
Linus Rapp has been appointed Kransmas for 2017 with the following motivation:
”Linus has a burning passion for athletics and has been active in many IFK Mora clubs. In his youth his athletic interests were many-sided but in later years he has come to focus on orienteering and ski orienteering. Within both these sports he has achieved great success and, apart from his athletic achievements, Linus is a well-liked, sociable and diplomatic person with a strong dedication to the volunteer work of IFK Mora OK.
In Vasaloppet he has tried on many functionary roles over the years and is now very involved as an announcer at these events. Linus’ personal characteristics are well suited for the role of Kransmas and he will be an excellent ambassador for Vasaloppet.”
Joanna Karlsson and Maria Gustafsson, Competition Managers Tjejvasan
Linus Rapp, Kransmas 2017
Age: 24 (born July 9, 1992)
Residence: Falun
Family: Girlfriend Hanna Eriksson (last year’s Kranskulla), sisters Sara and Therese, mother Marie and father Per
Occupation: Studying for a BSc in Construction Engineering
Sports: Ski orienteering, orienteering, cross-country skiing and some running races
Merits: In the national A team and national military team for ski orienteering. National Championship gold (relay) and bronze (relay) at senior level in the military World Championship. Junior National Championship gold (relay) in orienteering and junior World Championship bronze in individual ski orienteering.
Interests: Being outdoors and exercising, cooking, preferably something I picked myself such as mushrooms or berries, and spending time with family and friends
Describe yourself in three words: Happy, outgoing and dedicated
READ ABOUT THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF KRANSKULLA AND KRANSMAS
