After material flops and 'shitty races' at the Olympics – Jakobsen believes in a new three-year plan

Kristoffer Jakobsen, Sweden's top male alpine skier, is grappling with a career marked by frequent "did not finish" (DNF) results, especially in high-stakes events like the Olympics and World Championships. Headlines have often highlighted his struggles, with phrases like "Kristoffer Jakobsen drove out" and "New DNF for Swedish hope."

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I have worked in many ways and I have had mental trainers and so on.

Despite the persistent criticism, Jakobsen, who turns 32 in September and is a father of two, maintains a resilient attitude. "In the beginning, it hit me hard, and I could get angry and irritated. Now it's almost like background noise you don't see," he told Dagens Nyheter. He even finds a silver lining in the negative press: "Then you try to think, 'At least it's good that they're still writing about me – it means someone still cares.'"

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In the beginning, it hit me hard, and I could get angry and irritated. Now it's almost like background noise you don't see. I try not to read.

Jakobsen's record in slalom at five World Championship starts shows five DNFs, and the same pattern has repeated in his last two Olympic appearances. The past season was particularly difficult, with only one 13th-place finish in Kitzbühel; all other results were DNFs or DNQs (did not qualify). Per Jonsson, the national team's head coach, acknowledged Jakobsen's speed but pointed to "stability" as his "Achilles' heel."

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Then you try to think, 'At least it's good that they're still writing about me – it means someone still cares.'

Reflecting on his career, Jakobsen suggested that the pressure of being the sole male star in the national team might have contributed to his issues. He also noted his late entry into elite skiing, joining the national team setup later than most. "I wasn't that good," he admitted, explaining that while he could ski fast, he lacked the technical capacity for consistent results. He dismissed the idea of excessive external expectations, stating, "There should be expectations." However, he acknowledged the difficulty of being the focus of attention when consistently performing well followed by DNFs.

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But his Achilles' heel has always been stability.