In a recent interview, Olympic skier Iivo Niskanen expressed disappointment in his performance during the combined skiing event at the Val di Fiemme World Cup, finishing in 17th place. He described his condition as 'insufficient' and 'worse than expected.' His remarks surprised many, prompting his sister Kerttu Niskanen to weigh in during a humorous response to the media. She has known Iivo for 34 years and dismissed his negative self-assessment as typical post-race commentary from him.

Kerttu Niskanen reassured fans and supporters, stating that Iivo is actually in good shape despite his comments. She conveyed that people should not take his self-criticism seriously and implied that it is common for athletes to feel disappointed after a less-than-stellar performance. She emphasized her belief in her brother’s abilities and downplayed any concerns that might arise from his critique of his own skiing prowess.

Additionally, it was announced that Iivo Niskanen will not compete in the upcoming 10-kilometer race scheduled for Friday, a decision that the Finnish head coach, Teemu Pasanen, confirmed was made without any underlying drama. Pasanen echoed Kerttu’s sentiments, supporting the notion that the three-time Olympic champion remains in good form and should not be doubted based on his recent performance comments.