Charlotte Kalla made a feat and won Olympic gold for Sweden.
But the happiest of all was a Swedish doctor who worked in Norway.
His unforgettable reaction was seen by hundreds of thousands – and made him a national celebrity.
Few athletes could make people feel the way Kalla did.
It was an unforgettable day in Sochi, a day in February 2014. Sweden had not won a relay gold on the women’s side since 1960, and it looked like a long time coming even during the Russian Olympics. Charlotte Kalla was third when she went out on the last stretch. The distance? 26 seconds.
Incredible celebrations
Then Charlotte Kalla set out on a route that went down in the history books. She took second by second and suddenly the distance was only eleven. Finland and Germany in front just trembled. In the race, Kalla sprinted past and also took Sweden’s first Olympic gold in Sochi.
A historic display from one of our greatest athletes of all time. But the question is whether Peter Rancinger wasn’t the happiest. The then 46-year-old doctor, who worked everyday in Norway, got into the race in a rare way, and few have ever been as involved in a Swedish sporting event as he was.
Became a national celebrity
And the very best? His son secretly filmed the whole thing. His daughter then published the clip on YouTube – and then it took off. The clip became a viral success, and hundreds of thousands of people laughed heartily at Rancinger’s immense joy.
– I was completely exhausted after the race, more tired than Kalla, Rancinger told Expressen.
With his empathy, Rancinger became somewhat of a national celebrity, when he was invited to the Sports Gala and television programs, then also together with Charlotte Kalla. The skiing star also gave the doctor a personal invitation to the WC in Sweden the following year. Few athletes have managed to engage the Swedes in the same way as Charlotte Kalla, and this is perhaps the best proof of that. Eight years later, I’m still tanning my lip:
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