Cross-country skiing: “It’s frustrating”, laments William Poromaa
While the Swedish women shone in cross-country skiing at the Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina, the men’s results were much more lacklustre. In the individual skate event contested on Friday in Tesero (Italy), hopes of a medal fell like a soufflé. Sweden’s main contenders were expected to put in a solid performance – or even a place in the top 10 – but the reality of the race was much tougher.
William Poromaa got off to a good start in the first few kilometres. But on a tricky descent, he lost his balance and fell, bringing his progress to an abrupt halt. ” It’s frustrating, it should have been much better than this,” the Swede told Swedish television after the finish, visibly frustrated by the incident.
In the end, 25-year-old William Poromaa finished 20th, more than a minute behind the winner, with his head down but lucid: he remains convinced that his form can still produce better results. This result – despite his fall – makes him the best representative of the Nordic kingdom in the event, albeit a long way from his initial ambitions.
Behind him, the day was just as difficult for his team-mates: Gustaf Berglund finished 29th, Truls Gisselman 40th and Edvin Anger 42nd, all behind the leaders and unable to keep up with the intensity imposed by the Norwegians and athletes from other nations.
The mood in the men’s team is one of frustration. Some have spoken of the tough road ahead, while others point to a lack of consistency after a promising start. Now, Sweden are hoping for a collective burst of energy – but it’s going to be a tough task against teams like Norway and even France, who are far more consistent in these formats.
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