Charlotte Kalla defeated Finnish stars several times in her career. In its new book, the skiing giant recalls the violent event at the Sochi Olympics.
Charlotte Kalla (second from the left) gave her all in the Olympic relay. EPA/AOP
– Jeez, how embarrassing, I thought. The pee ran and the hunt continued, ex-cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla says in his autobiography published on Tuesday Skam den som ger sig (in Finnish, Shame on the one who gives up).
Supplier Johan Eskin in the work written with Kalla reveals that she urinated on her competition outfit during the Olympic relay in 2014.
Kalla, who skied the anchor section, set off for Finland by 25 seconds Krista Lähteenmäki (now Pärmäkoski) and Germany by Denise Herrmann after. The Swede saw off Lähteenmäki and Herrmann in the second round.
Kalla decided a kilometer before the finish line that he would not secure the bronze, but rather catch up with the top two.
– Shit about bronze. I will do everything I can to get gold, Kalla writes.
The story continues after the picture.
Charlotte Kalla pushed past Krista Lähteenmäki on the finish line. Kari Kuukka
A tired Kalla caught Lähteenmäki and Herrmann on the last climb. On the downhill before the stadium, the bladder failed.
– My body was so focused on gathering the remaining energy and skiing hard that it didn’t have the strength to hold back. –– I had to keep up with the pace and pee on myself to get my strength back.
The Swedish star got to the inside corners in the last corner of the stadium, the horseshoe, and came out on top. He skied Olympic gold. Finland took silver.
Teammates at the goal Anna Haag, Ida Ingemarsdotter and Emma Wiké arrived to congratulate. Sweden last won the women’s Olympic relay 54 years ago.
– I wanted to tell what happened before the final letter, but I was afraid that someone would hear. “I peed on myself,” I whispered to Anna when we were in the tent behind the goal, Kalla writes.
– All right. I have a dry change of clothes, Haag answered.
The fiber remained
Charlotte Kalla fanned the Tour de Ski victory in 2008. EPA/AOP
Another of Kalla’s big career wins is also related to a Finnish skier.
The young Swede, who skied the first Tour de Ski of his career in the 2007–2008 season, was second overall before the final climb of Alpe Cermis. The 20-year-old set off in 39.7 seconds Virpi Kuitunen (now Sarasvuo) after
Kalla closed the gap. The two climbed the ascent together.
– I wanted to feel his tempo and be ready to respond if he pushes more. That never happened. On a steep skiing slope, I went around and did it myself, Kalla writes.
Swedish national team boss Gunde Svan shouted that the gap with Kuitus is growing. Kalla didn’t dare to sigh in relief.
– I didn’t dare to look back. I didn’t know if Virpi would regain his strength.
In the end, Kalla beat Kuitunen in the overall race by 36.4 seconds. A huge media frenzy began. The young winner was rushed to press conferences and finally to the Swedish sports gala at the same table as the prince Carl Philip’s with.
– In that moment, I had no idea that what had just happened would change my life, Kalla recalls the victory in the book.
The quotes are quotes from Kalla’s book Skam den som ger sig.
Kalla (in the middle) smiled widely at the award ceremony. Italian Arianna Follis on the right, Virpi Kuitunen on the left. EPA/AOP