Jenny Rissveds is returning to World Cup racing
2016 Olympic champion returns to venue where she last won world championships
Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds is returning to international racing this Sunday at the Nové Mesto World Cup in Czech Republic.
After ascending to the peak of international mountain biking, the Swedish cross country racer stepped back from racing entirely in 2018.
Rissveds rocketed to fame in 2016, when she won under-23 world championships. That race took place on the same course that she will return to racing on this Sunday in the Czech Republic.
Later in 2016, Rissveds won the gold medal in cross country racing at the Rio Olympic Games.
Following the streak of career highlights, Rissveds struggled through the 2017 season. Injuries, the loss of a family member, and an ongoing dispute with the Swedish national cycling federation led her to miss most of that season’s World Cup races.
Going into 2018, Rissveds announced that she would not be stepping away from racing. Her and her Scott-SRAM team parted ways, amicably.
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When Rissveds returns to racing on Sunday, she will be wearing the colours of her new Program 31 team. The team is focused on showing how athletes can have a positive impact on society beyond the realm of sport.
In particular, Program 31 focuses on the Convention of the Rights of the Child, generally, and the Convention’s 31st article. That article sets out the importance of lowering barriers to participation in sport for children.
Rissveds talked about her return this week with Red Bull TV. You can watch the Team 31 intro below:
