​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Famous for his role completing the first leg of the men's team relay in Sochi 2014 (despite losing a ski at one point), Lars, who is based in team Sales-Purchase​ in G5 Development, is really looking forward to working in the studio and meeting up with some familiar faces.

​“I was involved in coverage of the South Korea Olympics four years ago when they visually 'transported' me to their studio over there, but that was just a few minutes. This will be loads of fun. It's great to be a part of the whole TV production, and it'll be a chance to reconnect with some people from the world of skiing."

“Mats Larsson, for example, was the assistant coach for the men's team in 2014, and played a big part in my and the team's success. It'll be really great to meet him again."

Now 36, Lars is best known for that famous first leg of the men's relay in Sochi back in 2014, when he overcame the odds to record the best lap time – despite losing a ski.

“Yeah, a lot of people remember it because of the fall, and then coming back. It felt great after the race but I wasn't so pleased at the time! A Russian skier stepped out in front of me and my ski detached from the binding. For a few seconds I feared the worst, as I knew the nearest replacement ski was a few hundred meters away – if it came to that. But in the end I could see the binding was intact and I reattached the ski. So I guess I was lucky after all – it could have been a lot worse!"

Lars retired from elite competition in 2015 after taking part in the World Championships in Falun. He then went on to study Software Engineering at Mid Sweden University.

“I've been interested in computers from a young age. Even later, during my skiing career as a senior, I'd like to sit and program between training sessions."

While out competing, Lars later crossed paths with Monitor's Harry Persson, who kept telling him he should apply to work at the company. He took Harry's advice, and came on board in the fall of 2018.

“There are parallels between elite sport and how we work at Monitor. As a cross-country skier you have to be committed – devoted, I'd say – and you need a long-term strategy. Not a lot of people go from high school to junior elite, and then on to senior elite standard. It takes genuine long-term planning, scaling up your training year by year. Your peak years might not be until the age of 26–30."

Another familiar face for Lars is Rikard Grip, Secretary General of the successful Swedish Biathlon team, for which Monitor is head sponsor.

"As team manager of the cross-country team in Sochi, Rikard played a key role in the success of the whole group. He's a really structured, reliable person, who was great to work with."