PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Calle Halfvarsson missed the WC medal by just a few seconds.
Immediately after the race, the Swedish veteran was extremely disappointed.
– It is difficult to feel joy, he says to Viaplay.
The men’s five-mile race was highly dramatic and the perfect ending to the 2023 World Ski Championships in Planica. Before the race, a lot of skaters made up for the medals and at the very front the Norwegians were once again strong.
Swedish bronze
Norwegian Paul Golberg won the WC gold and the compatriot Johannes Hösflot Kläbo took the WC silver but behind it was a huge Swedish achievement. William Poromaa and Calle Halfvarsson settled for the WC bronze in a raucous sprint duel.
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The younger Poromaa emerged victorious from the blue-yellow duel and took the very first WC medal of his career in the most impressive way. It was also extremely long-awaited for the Swedish men’s national team, who got to celebrate the first medal in this championship and the first in six long years.
READ MORE: WC hero William Poromaa’s wonderful tears after the feat race: “I felt like I was going to die”
Calle admits
But alongside the total joy for Poromaa, you really suffer with Halfvarsson, who missed out on a WC medal in what may be the last WC race of his career. Afterwards, the 33-year-old was completely disappointed.
– I’m not that disappointed that I lose third place to Wille. He deserves that. But it’s more that you join in and fight for victory. But I couldn’t have done more, says an emotional Halfvarsson to Viaplay.
– It is difficult to feel joy. But if I digest this a little, I will be able to feel joy.
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Halfvarsson was the first to congratulate the bronze medalist William Poromaa and both Swedes embraced in a beautiful hug at the finish line.
– It’s nice that he takes it. We get a medal for the men from here. It is sad that I will be fourth, but it was a Swede who came third. It’s good, says Halfvarsson in the interview.
READ MORE: Petter Northug apologizes to Calle Halfvarsson – reveals his guilty conscience: “It’s my fault”
The big question now is whether this was Calle Halfvarsson’s last World Cup race in his career or whether he will participate again during the skiing World Cup in Trondheim in two years.
– I’m not purung anymore. I take one year at a time, he says himself about the future to the television channel.
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