The World Championships will begin in Lenzerheide, Switzerland in just over two weeks.
27.1. 14: 26 • Updated 27.1. 15:16
The Finnish biathlon team was hit by influenza at the Anterselva World Cup of Italy, says the Finnish team doctor Katja Mjøsund for sports.
– We have an influenza epidemic on the team, but fortunately athletes are well vaccinated. It has been quite a mild disease, but definitely one that you can’t compete with, says Mjøsund.
During the weekend, the Finnish team reported that the disease first was in the service staff. Then Venla Lehtonen ill and on Sunday’s chase all Finnish men, Tero Seppälä, Otto Invenius and Olli Hiidensalo Stayed out of the race.
The number one name for Finnish biathlon Suvi Minkkinen On Sunday, after the women’s message, he told his hands on his hands.
– Yes, that (illness) is a little thought. The shit is already in the fan. Let’s see if it hits. There is nothing else here. Stress does not help, Minkkinen said.
The timing is poor: the World Cup will start in Lenzerheide, Switzerland in just over two weeks.
– Of course, the situation is not optimal timely. We have worked hard with the team to prevent these diseases, so there was a lot of bad luck in that point of view, says Mjøsund, a doctor.
He has been in contact with athletes remotely because he is in Finland. Mjøsund says he will go to the World Cup according to the team.
– At least a few hours a day, I’ve used these team things in recent days.
Mjøsund explains that the disease spread to athletes from a person in the team. The influenza grabbed, even though the person felt asymptomatic.
– The symptomatic person was actually dealing with all the members of the team before he knew he was sick. That injury was as if it had happened.
“Something has had fever”
According to Mjøsund, the team’s athletes have followed the hygiene instructions.
The disease situation has been properly prepared by using masks, for example at airports and if an athlete is symptomatic. However, masks are not used in all situations, the doctor says.
– We use masks in certain situations and hand hygiene is carefully taken care of. However, in all situations, the mask is not used because it is quite stressful for the athlete. If athletes have to live day after day by mask, then it also begins to load.
Mjøsund says that athletes have been concerned about the situation. It is generally known that already affected rampage before hard sports may reduce performance. Also, you should not practice in pain.
– Of course, there is little athletic time, but athletes have worked really smartly. We have a very mild athlete who has been left out of the race, even though we have a terrible mind to go to the race.
– At its mildest, there has been little mucus. Something has had fever. At least some plans for the World Cup have been reviewed again.
Mjøsund says that the disease should not go to practice high in the mountains. The World Cup is 1,500 meters.
– It is generally thought that a high training camp will never go if not quite healthy. The overall stress and the athlete’s load are much higher there.