Perseus Karlström walked five kilometers – with a rupture.
That makes expert Miro Zalar react strongly, to say the least.
– It is unreal, he says.
Perseus Karlström has been dominant during the Finnkampen, but this year the situation was special. For the first time, walking was included in the total score, and it was good news for Sweden as Karlström was once again the overwhelming favorite to win.
Incredible effort
Karlström recently came from a WC where he won silver. But he was not just as successful in Finnkampen. Karlström looked tormented throughout the race, but he fought his way through and grabbed an important third place for Sweden.
Karlström had to leave afterwards with a doctor and he then jumped forward on crutches. Afterwards he admitted what really happened; he had suffered a muscle tear in the back of his thigh. Despite that, he continued – for a full five kilometres.
– It is a mixture of adrenaline and foolhardiness that I did it. Had it not been Finnkampen and points at stake, I would have broken immediately after five kilometers, he says, according to Expressen.
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The shock of the expert
Perseus Karlström thus means that he bit the bullet for Sweden’s sake.
– In a normal competition, I would not have walked the last kilometers. That means a longer rehab of a few weeks. It may not be worth it, but I hope the point was valuable for the standings, he tells Radiosporten.
Radiosport’s expert Miro Zalar was extremely impressed by Karlström’s attitude, and that he even manages to walk around he describes as “unreal”.
– It is an injury that is known to heal, but it can take a slightly different amount of time. What is surreal is that he has walked for five kilometers with a rupture in his back. I’ve had a few such injuries, and you never think you’ll even be able to walk again, he says.
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