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I sort of want to write a novel-length post about this, but I don't think I have the words for it right now. So instead, I just want to mention that a certain Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the bronze in today's cross-country sprint in the World Championship in Lahti!
It's been a long time since I've watched any sports event with this much emotional involvement. I was nervous about the competition all day, to the point that I even had a stomach ache for a long time. That might sound like being a mad fan to you, but that's how it works. I haven't had anyone to care about with this intensity for a few years, though!
I just adore this guy so, so much, and I truly wanted him to do as well as he possibly could. However, he's just 20 years old, and this is his first international championship on the senior level. Even though he won the last race before the championship, and has been doing great all season, I was still nervous about how he would do today.
In the end he was 3rd, which is an amazing achievement on his debut! I'm so, so happy for him! Judging from the interviews afterwards, he's also very pleased himself - but he also said that he didn't feel that he was at his absolute best, and that immediately after crossing the finish line it's always annoying to have someone in front of him, because it means that he lost to them - even though he's also enormously happy about the bronze, especially after he's had some time to truly let it sink in that he has a medal from the World Championship.
Oh, and just for the record, because I want to have this here for my own reference - and because I also like both of them quite a lot - Italian Federico Pellegrino was the World Champion, with Sergey Ustyugov from Russia in second place.
But, can I just say it again - JOHANNES WAS THIRD, ON HIS DEBUT! This is great news also because it increases the likelihood of seeing him in more races during these championships, but let's see what happens with that. It's very likely that he'll be there for Sunday's team sprint, at least - maybe also other races during next week. And, this is the guy who said in an interview last summer that he did not consider these championships a goal, just a dream. Now, look what he is doing - winning a medal on his first try!
He is amazing, have I told you yet?
EDIT: Team sprint spot CONFIRMED! It's apparently not decided yet who his teammate will be. I think Emil Iversen sounds like the most likely choice, though, but nothing is official yet.
It's been a long time since I've watched any sports event with this much emotional involvement. I was nervous about the competition all day, to the point that I even had a stomach ache for a long time. That might sound like being a mad fan to you, but that's how it works. I haven't had anyone to care about with this intensity for a few years, though!
I just adore this guy so, so much, and I truly wanted him to do as well as he possibly could. However, he's just 20 years old, and this is his first international championship on the senior level. Even though he won the last race before the championship, and has been doing great all season, I was still nervous about how he would do today.
In the end he was 3rd, which is an amazing achievement on his debut! I'm so, so happy for him! Judging from the interviews afterwards, he's also very pleased himself - but he also said that he didn't feel that he was at his absolute best, and that immediately after crossing the finish line it's always annoying to have someone in front of him, because it means that he lost to them - even though he's also enormously happy about the bronze, especially after he's had some time to truly let it sink in that he has a medal from the World Championship.
Oh, and just for the record, because I want to have this here for my own reference - and because I also like both of them quite a lot - Italian Federico Pellegrino was the World Champion, with Sergey Ustyugov from Russia in second place.
But, can I just say it again - JOHANNES WAS THIRD, ON HIS DEBUT! This is great news also because it increases the likelihood of seeing him in more races during these championships, but let's see what happens with that. It's very likely that he'll be there for Sunday's team sprint, at least - maybe also other races during next week. And, this is the guy who said in an interview last summer that he did not consider these championships a goal, just a dream. Now, look what he is doing - winning a medal on his first try!
He is amazing, have I told you yet?
EDIT: Team sprint spot CONFIRMED! It's apparently not decided yet who his teammate will be. I think Emil Iversen sounds like the most likely choice, though, but nothing is official yet.