At the recent Olympic 50 kilometer cross-country skiing event, world champion Harald Amundsen observed that fellow competitor Iivo Niskanen was not performing at his best, indicating health issues. Amundsen noted that he recognized something was off with Niskanen right from the start, expressing concern for his fellow athlete. Niskanen is reported to have suffered from a viral infection that led to breathing difficulties, which explains his subpar performance during this critical event.

Amundsen himself has been contending with similar health problems throughout the Olympic games, having fallen ill shortly before the competition. In previous events, he struggled with his performance, finishing in low ranks, including sixth and fourteenth in different events leading up to the 50km race. His experiences reflect the challenging conditions many athletes face when dealing with illness during high-stakes competitions such as the Olympics, often impacting their performance significantly.

Both athletes' struggles underline the physical demands of Olympic-level competition, where even minor health setbacks can derail an athlete's chances for success. The camaraderie among competitors is evident, as they share similar challenges and understand the pressures involved in achieving peak performance, particularly under the spotlight of the Olympics in a beautiful but demanding setting like Milan-Cortina.