Olympics-Cross-country skiing-Brit Musgrave braves ‘hellfire’ virus to make it to Beijing

By Philip O’Connor

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (Reuters) – As the entire world fearful about COVID-19, British cross-country skier Andrew Musgrave was struck down by a virus of a distinct sort as a bout of shingles derailed his Olympic preparations in November.

A headache and a reddened eye had been the primary indicators that he was contaminated with the varicella zoster virus, which causes shingles, and it was not a pleasing expertise for the Norway-based Brit.

“‘Hellfire’ is what they name it in Norwegian and it’s a excellent description, as a result of it was absolute hell once I had it. I bought it in my eye, and it was so horrifically painful,” Musgrave informed Reuters, grimacing on the reminiscence.

“I had just a few days the place all I may do was lie in mattress and really feel sorry for myself — when everyone else was fearful about COVID, you’re affected by this. I couldn’t have cared much less about COVID for these few days.”

It wasn’t the one unhealthy luck he had in 2021 — earlier within the yr the 31-year-old underwent surgical procedure after a crash.

“I fell over within the spring whereas backcountry snowboarding and tore my pec (pectoral muscle, which attaches the chest to the higher arm), ripped the tendon that attaches the pec to the bone and needed to get that caught again on,” he mentioned, matter-of-factly.

“However I used to be tremendous fortunate and I used to be again to full coaching below lower than three months, so I’m very glad to be right here.”

Born in England, Musgrave moved to Alaska as a five-year-old and fell in love with winter sports activities there, testing Alpine snowboarding and snowboarding earlier than specializing in cross-country.

Dwelling in Norway since 2009, he expressed sympathy for the Norwegian skiers, whom he is aware of nicely from the ski circuit, which have been affected by COVID-19.

“I believe it’s been an absolute stress for them, so the fellows which are right here, I believe they’re very glad to be right here. They’ve had a removed from optimum pre-camp and preparation for the Video games, so I’m very glad I’ve not been of their sneakers,” he mentioned.

Having put his personal damage and sickness troubles behind him, Musgrave was not sure if the absence of a few of the robust Norwegian skiers would possibly open up a possibility for him.

“We’ll see,” he mentioned. “We’ll discover out quickly.”

The lads’s cross-country races get underway with the skiathlon on Sunday.

(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Modifying by Toby Davis)