According to the doctor of the Finnish national skiing team, Maarit Valtonen, the game has not been lost, even if the flu strikes before the World Championships. The goal is for the athletes to be in shock at the starting line.
This season, the athletes of the Finnish national skiing team have not been able to avoid viral diseases in the same way as last season.
Iivo Niskanen got sick with corona at the end of the year. Jasmi Joensuu and Krista Pärmäkoski unfortunately had to stop the Tour de Ski due to a stomach bug. Also made the national team last year Ville Ahonen had to leave the Tour in the middle due to the coronavirus infection.
Lauri Vuorinen and suffered from health problems Cross mat Hakola had to withdraw from the World Cup competitions in Toblach due to the flu. Also Remi Lindholm stayed away from Toblach as a precaution.
The situation of Hakola and Lindholm is especially worrying, because the World Cup competitions in Planica are approaching.
Doctor of the Finnish cross country team Maarit Valtonen does not comment on the situation of individual athletes, but acknowledges on a general level that respiratory infections usually recover quickly.
The general virus situation is reflected in the national team
Valtonen is satisfied with how the entire national team has committed to the measures learned during the corona period. Among other things, on race trips, you move around with a mask.
According to Valtonen, however, the environment is very different compared to the previous season. There have not been as strict measures on the race trips this year as last season, which is why there is also a greater risk of getting sick.
– The general virus situation is now also reflected in the national team. This is a big change after the corona years. Last year, the group was sick less than usual, because the usual viruses were suppressed.
Valtonen emphasizes that athletes do not need to be isolated all year round. Constant isolation can cause loneliness, and in the longer term it can also affect the athlete’s psyche. However, as important games approach, the situation changes. According to Valtonen, the greatest risk of getting infected is especially on the plane.
Athletes do everything they can to avoid getting sick.
– We have instructed the athletes to live as normally as possible. However, as important competitions approach, many try to avoid social contacts on the way and at the finishing camp.
FIS guidelines and recommendations are followed in Planica’s World Cup skiing to avoid infectious diseases. Valtonen trusts that the athletes and support staff of the Finnish team will follow the given instructions. In the team, care is taken to ensure that diseases cannot move within the team either.
However, according to Valtonen, there is no need to panic if an athlete gets a cold before the Games. Diseases are individual, but most often they have mild symptoms, are short-lived and do not cause complications.
– We start from the fact that individual flus are not allowed to topple the house of cards. Everything is done so that the athletes are in shock at the starting line.
The World Ski Championships will be held in Planica, Slovenia, from 21 February to 5 March. The races are shown on channels.