You have just reached the finish line, feel the adrenaline pumping and perhaps feel like giving the closest person a hug after a tough race is finished. The latter will be avoided by several of the Norwegian national team stars before the start of the WC. – You try to think about it all the time and keep your distance from everyone. In some situations, there is a lot of adrenaline and joy, and you forget yourself a little. There will of course be some gaps, says Anne Kjersti Kalvå to news. BACK: Anne Kjersti Kalvå is finally back after round two with covid disease. – Can you imagine if the cross-country skier was one of four profiles who struggled with a long-term illness after the Tour de Ski in January. Together with teammate Tiril Udnes Weng, Swedish Frida Karlsson and Katharina Hennig, they ended up on the sidelines for a longer period. Now women’s national team coach Sjur Ole Svarstad wants to introduce a kind of “hugging ban” before the start of the WC. He does so for fear of infection: – You can think about it for two seconds anyway. But it is difficult then. Joyful scenes are difficult to avoid. They are so impulsive, but I think they are good at looking after themselves and others, says Svarstad. – So you come with a “no hugging encouragement”? – Yes, I think we can calm down on the pressure now towards the WC, he states. – There will be little body contact. We will have to keep the meter, says Kalvå about the time ahead. Swedish coach will allow hugs In the finish area after 10 kilometers during the Tour de Ski, Kalvå and Karlsson, among others, were seen hugging. Shortly afterwards, Kalvå fell ill with the corona virus, and Karlsson wanted a hugging ban to be introduced to avoid infection. Afterwards, the Swedish skiing favorite himself became ill, but not from corona. Sprint runner Johanna Sundling has herself been out for a large part of the season due to illness, and is positive about the Norwegian refusal to hug: – I have thought about that myself too, that it is wise not to hug so much after the finish because you never know. We are very, very vulnerable. It’s definitely something I’ve thought about – not to squeeze so much. END OF THIS?: Nadine Fähndrich from Switzerland and Johanna Sundling after the sprint final in 2020. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB But the Swedes have not introduced a hugging ban. – No, if we are tight, it is because we have a good result and then we can take it. So we haven’t talked about it that much, says the Swedish national team coach Per Nilsson, who admits that the illness has taken on more than usual. – I have tried to avoid it. Tiril Udnes Weng also fell ill after the Tour de Ski, and before the World Cup weekend in Toblach, lived in isolation at home in Lillehammer. The World Cup manager supports that a kind of “hugging ban” has been introduced, but admits that it is difficult. WAS SICK: Udnes Weng was second overall in the Tour de Ski, but has been plagued by illness ever since. – I guess we get to hug those we are in close contact with, and then let it go. I have tried to avoid it in the target area. You kind of forget it when you’ve reached the finish line there, and someone comes and wants to give you a hug. It is not so easy to push them away, says Udnes Weng. – Have you thought about it? – I’ve had it in the back of my mind a bit. I must have hugged someone too. I try not to think too much about it, says Udnes Weng. For both Udnes Weng and Kalvå, this is the first World Cup weekend they have participated in since the Tour de Ski. At the weekend, the last round will be played with the world cup before the world championship. It happens in Italian Toblach. ON PLACE IN TOBLACH: Tiril Udnes Weng on a training trip in South Tyrol. American support The American ski star Jessica Diggins, who herself is a hugger, has a great understanding of the initiative. EIN KLEMMAR: Jessica Diggins understands that the Norwegian camp is taking precautions. – I understand that very well. Getting sick is heartbreaking. You never want to get sick, because that makes it difficult to train and compete, but especially around the championships – like last year when there was so much stress with covid around the Olympics, says the American and continued: – So I understand that you have to take precautions and we shouldn’t judge each other for trying to stay healthy. Perhaps we should rather do the opposite and be proud that people do what they feel they have to in order to stand on the starting line. Diggins himself will assess the risk from race to race: – I’m a real hugger, so it’s going to take a bit of me to think about it. I think I will take different risks, or no risks, in different places.
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Will the national team stars be careful after this – fear of an illness crisis – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
