Finnish skier Niilo Moilanen recently shared on Instagram that he fell ill due to an infection caused by yersinia bacteria, which is typically found in animals. This infection led to severe gastrointestinal symptoms and fever, seriously affecting his health during a critical period of competition. Despite the common belief that stomach illnesses are often viral, Moilanen's case exemplifies the potential impact of bacterial infections in athletes' performance.

Moilanen detailed his struggle with this illness, describing it as quite severe, with symptoms affecting him intensely enough to keep him from participating in the Oberhof World Cup scheduled for January 17-18. He noted a few days of recovery were necessary before he could even consider returning to the slopes. This incident highlights the vulnerability of athletes to non-viral illnesses, which can significantly disrupt their training and competition schedules.

In addition to the gastrointestinal issues, Moilanen mentioned experiencing joint problems in January, which were resolved. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) warns that some individuals affected by yersinia may also develop reactive arthritis or erythema nodosum. Nonetheless, Moilanen remains positive, asserting he finds no correlation between his joint issues and the yersinia infection, as he moves forward in his athletic career.