By Summer Hurley 

Anastasia Nilsson is one of eight freshmen women’s distance runners for Georgia during the 2025-26 academic year.  This fall, Nilsson ran and scored in all five of the Bulldogs’ cross country meets, topping her teammates in three of those including a 30th-place finish at the SEC Championships.  She will make her indoor and outdoor debut for UGA this semester.

Here is a Q&A with the Stockholm, Sweden, native: 

Q: Was coming to the University of Georgia your first time in America?

Anastasia: Yes, I actually came here in August for the first time. You know, I signed in May and the beginning of June, and then I got here in August. 

Q: Are there any big differences between where you’re from compared to being in America? 

Anastasia: Probably how friendly people are here, which is great. If you sit on a bus in Sweden, they side eye you and say,”Why are you next to me?”  But you know, here people are very social and welcoming. 

Q: So, were there any major culture shocks that you found interesting, especially being in the south? 

Anastasia: Well, the mindset is very different when it comes to work and sports. Everyone has goals and each community group or team works hard to win, while in Sweden it’s more lowkey and everyone can win. 

Q: What languages do you speak?

Anastasia: I speak Swedish and English the most. I grew up speaking Russian because my mom is from Russia. I can read it a little, but I forgot about it.  Norwegian and Danish are basically Swedish, too. 

Q: When did you start track?

Anastasia: I started when I was six years old. Well, I’ve been running my whole life for fun. Actually, I started in a club when I was six. I think it was because my dad signed my mom up for marathons, but she didn’t like it. So I just came with her and did small races, like two miles and just loved it. 

Q: So was track your first sport?

Anastasia: No, I did skiing my whole life, like downhill. I was just skiing again when we were home. But now, it’s just for fun since I can’t practice anymore. You know, no snow in Georgia but it’s okay. 

Q: What is your event? 

Anastasia: I know everything from 800 meters to 5K.

Q: So why did you choose track?

Anastasia: I think it is my responsibility to become a better version of me and like, I just like to compete against people all the time. I love running races and I just love becoming better, but it’s also a team sport at the same time.

Q: Do you feel like you can depend on your teammates? You’ve only been here since August, but how do you like being with the team?

Anastasia: I think I develop a lot with my teammates, they help me better my weaknesses and I learn a lot from them. I feel like I’ve become a better runner. We depend on each other and we know what each other’s best is so we all just want to work together and get better. 

Q: Why did you choose UGA?

Anastasia: Actually I didn’t go anywhere but Georgia. I just fell in love with Georgia, and obviously there are other schools who are known for certain teams and their track teams, but this is a really good running school. And I just felt in Georgia that they really want to invest in you, and you can really feel the team spirit and there were just so many other factors about the kind of athletes the school produces. I didn’t really feel like my other friends who were calculated in deciding their schools, and being here I just had the gut feeling. 

Q: Were your parents supportive of you coming to America for college? 

Anastasia: Yes, they really supported me and told me that if I wanted to do it that would help me do it fully and we would do it together. They’re with me and help me so much, so whenever I need help they support me. 

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment? 

Anastasia: I was in the European Cross Country Championship and I took a bronze medal in December. I was really proud of that as a team because I did it with my best friend. 

Q: What is a goal you have for this season?

Anastasia: Aside from the European Championship in December, probably you know taking the records for the school. Maybe like the 3K and beating the records for the school, that is probably my goal. Otherwise just to get better and better in my performance. 

Q: What is your favorite clothing brand?

Anastasia: I love high fashion, you know how it is in Europe, very focused on clothes. But I love Isabel Marant and otherwise like Valentino for clothing. 

Q: Who was your #1 artist on spotify wrapped?

Anastasia: So it’s kind of weird, my age for wrapped was 56 because I like rock’n’roll and everyone doesn’t expect it. But mine was Motley Crew. 

Q: Do you have a favorite animal? 

Anastasia: Actually I love animals, have you ever seen Free Willy? Like the black and white whales?

Q: So you like orca whales?

Anastasia:  Yes, those orca whales, I’ve just seen that movie so that would probably be my favorite if I had to pick. 

Q: Do you have any celebrity look-alikes? 

Anastasia: You know I don’t really remember a lot but I get some athletes or random models. But one time a guy told me I looked like Angelina Jolie. I don’t know if he was trying to hit on me but I can sometimes see where I look like her, so probably her but other than that I don’t know. 

Q: What’s your go to coffee order? 

Anastasia: When I go to Starbucks I like an iced vanilla latte just because it’s simple and so good. But if I’m somewhere and I can’t decide I’ll probably go with a cappuccino. 

Q: Do you have any premeet rituals?

Anastasia: Well I don’t try to think too much before a race so I really like to walk and talk with anyone, and everyone tries to keep de-stressed. 

Q: Well since you’re a music girl, do you have any songs you might listen to before a race?  

Anastasia: I really like Kick Start My Heart by Motley Crew, but if not that then probably Enter Sandman by Metallica.