Frida Karlsson has cold symptoms the day before the final Olympic 5000m cross-country skiing event. But they haven't gotten any worse, says Swedish national team doctor Rickard Noberius at 2 p.m. on Saturday, after spending the morning watching the men's 5000m race.
"What I've heard over the phone is that they're the same symptoms as yesterday. When I get back to the hotel, I'll talk to her and examine her," says Noberius.
The decision can be made as early as Saturday, but it could also be delayed until the start of the race.
If her symptoms worsen and things are going in the wrong direction, then it's easy to make the decision now. But if things are going in the right direction, the decision might be made two minutes before the start at worst.
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Competing with a minor cold is generally not a good idea, he says.
Nine times out of ten it doesn't go so well; you lose quite a few percent if you compete when you're sick. My main task is to make sure you don't risk your long-term health, and competing with an illness in your body is always a potential risk.
