Cross-country skiing : Kristine Stavaas Skistad still doesn’t appreciate the cameras
It was a long-awaited comeback. On Saturday in Lillehammer (Norway), Kristine Stavaas Skistad was back on the circuit after missing out on the opening competitions in Ruka (Finland) in the skate sprint of this second stage of the cross-country skiing World Cup.
Having undergone stomach surgery a few weeks ago, the Norwegian didn’t provide any further information on her injury. Present at the press conference before the race, she was quick to dismiss the matter. “I don’t want to go into the details of what happened. But an operation was necessary. And I recovered afterwards, she explained simply to NRK. I’m in close contact with the national team doctor. None of us thought I’d be able to compete before Christmas.”
At the start of the sprint qualifier, which she finished in a good fourth place, the Scandinavian sent out some reassuring early signals. However, it was during the final phases that the 25-year-old cross-country skier found herself in trouble. Eliminated without being selected as a lucky loser, she was even downgraded by the judges after being guilty of obstruction in her quarter-final.
Locked in a chalet for half an hour
After this early but logical exit, Kristine Stavaas Skistad deliberately snubbed all the journalists on site. The native of Konnerud (Norway), who is already not very talkative even after a success, even locked herself away in one of the chalets on the site for half an hour.
When she left, and while many of her colleagues were still waiting for her, the young woman did not elaborate on her subject : “Now, I’m going home to train. Goodbye”, she said coolly. The Swedes were quick to criticise her behaviour.
“It’s not really professional. You have to be able to channel your disappointment, face the media and say what went wrong, then take your disappointment home with you, complained Johan Olsson, a former cross-country skier and now a consultant for Viaplay. It’s a clear sign of frustration and disappointment.”
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