Photo: Bildbyrån
On Saturday the Tour de Ski starts. The Swedish TV viewers will have to do without one of the most popular and knowledgeable experts in the box.
The former Olympic gold hero Johan Olsson is forced to cancel.
– It feels incredibly heavy to miss one of the year’s great highlights, says the Viaplay expert to Expressen.
Few men’s skiers have become as popular in modern times as Johan Olsson44. He has won two Olympic relay golds and two individual WC golds – he has also been awarded the Bragdguldet on two occasions (2010 and 2013). Since he ended his career in 2017, he has been both a coach for the Swedish cross-country team and a TV expert in Viaplay.
Olsson was supposed to cover the Tour de Ski
As a skier, Olsson actually completed only one full Tour de Ski. In 2013 he came ninth on the tour. The idea and plan this year was for him to act as an expert throughout the Tour de Ski, which begins in Toblach, Italy, on Saturday. But now it is suddenly clear that Viaplay has had to decide on a late departure.
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Johan Olsson, who commented on the World Cup and WC for the channel, has been forced to cancel his participation. He should have been down in Italy and reported on the spot, but during Christmas he has instead been bedridden.
– I had a small cold a few days before Christmas which escalated to a cough and fever on Christmas Eve, he tells Expressen.
Viaplay does not replace Johan Olsson
That the length expert is missing will be noticed. Partly because he is very popular among the Swedes, and partly because Viaplay has chosen not to replace him after his illness. So it will be empty in his place. Otherwise, Viaplay’s line-up during the Tour de Ski consists of the presenters Peter Jihde and Johanna Ojalathe commentator Per Forsbergthe experts Anna-Karin Strömstedt and Theodore Peterson and the reporter Ludwig Swan.
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Johan Olsson himself is saddened by the fact that he is forced to cancel his participation. But at the same time he had no choice.
– It feels incredibly heavy to miss one of the year’s great highlights, but considering how I feel, there was no other decision to make than to stay at home, he says.
There will be more trains ahead, Johan. Of course, it’s a shame that you miss this year’s Tour de Ski, but you will have several chances. Buckle up now and take care of yourself, and you can enjoy the competitions from the TV sofa instead.
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