Norway’s gold medal hopes for Beijing 2022 have taken a hit as cross country skier Simen Hegstad Kruger has tested positive for COVID-19.
He won the gold medal in 2018 in PyeongChang competing in the 30km skiathlon. He also won gold as part of the 4 x 10km relay team and took silver in the 15km freestyle.
Kruger has not shown any symptoms of COVID-19 and is quarantining in Italy according to Norwegian media.
“We have had infection in the squad, and we have taken new PCR tests today,” said team doctor Oystein Andersen. “We have feared more would come, and unfortunately we have got another one and it Simen Hegstad Kruger.”
The Norwegian team is due to fly to Beijing on January 30 and Kruger will not be on the plane. The 30km event will take place February 6.
It’s possible for Kruger to remain on the team and fly to Beijing ahead of the men’s 50km mass start free on February 19.
Fellow Norwegian cross-country skiers Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalva have also tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating in Italy.
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