Iivo Niskanen, a noted cross-country skier from Finland, saw his Olympic dreams dashed when he had to withdraw from the 50-kilometer race at Val di Fiemme. Suffering from a recent illness, Niskanen was unable to maintain his pace and fell behind the leading group shortly after the 15-kilometer mark. Despite an initial attempt to catch up, he acknowledged that his body wouldn’t allow him to continue, leading to a sense of resignation about the race.

After withdrawing, Niskanen met with the Olympic Committee's chief physician, Maarit Valtonen, dressed and expressed his thoughts on the race. He remarked that while the pace seemed manageable, he could not sustain it due to his health condition. Niskanen described the experience as deeply disappointing, reflecting on the extensive preparation he had undertaken in the four years leading up to the Olympics.

In a subsequent interview, Niskanen's emotional state was evident as he communicated the burden of unfulfilled expectations. He had dedicated over 4,500 hours of training for this moment and found it difficult to accept the limitations imposed by illness. Despite the outcome, he acknowledged the opportunity to compete, but the weight of his disappointment was palpable, serving as a reminder of the physical demands of elite sports and the fragility of health during crucial competitions.