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It was on Thursday afternoon that the eight Swedish slalom skiers received the surprise message that none of them can participate in this weekend’s World Cup competition in Levi, Finland. This is due to the fact that on Wednesday coach Christian Thoma tested positive for covid-19.
Both national team manager Lars Melin and alpine coach Tommy Eliasson Winter initially expressed “humility” before the decision and an understanding of the complexity caused by the coronavirus.
Swedish horsemen I don’t feel the same
– The drivers are sad, of course, they are disappointed with this. They have negative results and yet they feel like they’ve been punished as a team in a way that they don’t think feels right, says Tommy Eliasson Winter.
The alpine manager is now working to get motivation from the Finnish and Swedish infection control doctors who made the decision to exclude the Swedes.
– I try to fight for them and take part in this decision.
– We will listen to the authorities, we will follow advice and recommendations – we will follow the law – but you would still like to participate in a discussion.
Are you missing an explanation?
– Yes, we can accept the decision but we still want an explanation. We received the message in the same second, almost as it was published on your website. There was never an opportunity for dialogue and there is some disappointment in that, says Tommy Eliasson Winter.
One who is affected More difficult is slalom star Anna Swenn-Larsson, who has ambitions to finish high in the general slalom cup, but has already lost a fifth of the season.
– For Anna who competes to win the “world” (total slalom cup)… It is not just a dozen weekends that disappear, but a large part of her goals and feats in life. They are obliged to give them an explanation.
To top it off, national team skiers may be forced to quarantine for an entire week at Levi. Tommy Eliasson Winter still doesn’t know what will happen to that thing.
– It is not clear whether they will stay or not. It could be seven days if I understand it correctly. That would be less good.
Read more:
Swedish alpine team in quarantine: may get stuck on Levi
Covids women’s team coach was infected before this weekend’s Alpine premiere
“I don’t want to travel like a time bomb”
