A few days before the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the Norwegian cross-country team has to deal with the next Corona case.
As the ski association announced at a press conference, the two-time Olympic champion Simen Hegstad Krüger also tested positive for the corona virus, and the 28-year-old is almost impossible to start at the Olympics. Previously, after a trainer, relay world champion Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalva had already tested positive. Their use in Beijing is also uncertain. A heavy blow for the cross-country skiing nation of Norway.
“It’s incredibly sad. It also affects the entire team. I have to say that it’s no longer fun. It’s tough, very tough,” said cross-country coach Espen Bjervig. The Norwegians are preparing on the Seiser Alm in the South Tyrolean Dolomites.
Krüger, who won gold in skiathlon and the relay in Pyeongchang in 2018, has no symptoms. On February 6, Krüger was scheduled to run in the skiathlon and fight for gold again. He doesn’t get that chance now.
In extreme cases, Krüger could only fly to China in 15 days, said team doctor Øystein Andersen. Krüger shared a room with Harald Østberg Amundsen until the day before, so another case could be added. Both are in quarantine.
Athletes who tested positive shortly before the Olympics (February 4 to 20) must present a total of four negative PCR tests in order to be allowed to enter China.
Norway’s cross-country skiers are considered very cautious during the pandemic and also refrained from competitions last winter to minimize the risk of infection. There are now also complications on arrival, because the athletes are considered to be close contacts of the coach who tested positive. It is now scheduled to go to China on January 31st, which is later than initially planned.