The Olympic chief physician for Finland's team, Maarit Valtonen, has responded to significant criticism after several cross-country skiers fell ill during the Milan-Cortina Olympics. In the last week of the games, four members of the Finnish cross-country skiing team had to withdraw due to illness, while others reported symptoms of flu. This situation has sparked discussions among experts about the circumstances that led to these health issues.

Valtonen explained that increased viral outbreaks in the competition area made their way into the Finnish squad, emphasizing that until the last week of the Olympics, everything had appeared to be normal with no illness reported in the team. The turning point came when Finland's star skier Iivo Niskanen began exhibiting respiratory symptoms, which were later identified as due to a metapneumovirus. This unexpected twist raised alarms about the potential for widespread health issues within the team.

As criticisms from various doctors regarding the operational methods of the cross-country skiing team surface, Valtonen insists on the importance of transparency and assures that the public has the right to be informed. The impact of these health challenges not only on the athletes' performance but also on the overall reputation and preparation of the Finnish Olympic team has raised questions about health management strategies and fallback plans for such unforeseen circumstances in future competitions.