No, the start of the season has not been optimal for William Poromaa.
The Swedish premiere in Gällivare was canceled due to illness and he missed the World Cup premiere last weekend completely.
When the international ski circus has made its way to Trondheim – the place where he secured his first World Cup silver medal this spring – Poromaa does not expect any great feats.
“Low, very low”
"My expectations are low, very low," he says ahead of this weekend's competitions.
I want to reach my goal, just be able to complete it and then go home and continue training well.
Poromaa describes that he has tried to take the situation for what it is. Despite the illness, he has had some training sessions, but admits that it is not great.
Of course I feel stress too. I really want to be here and perform, but then expectations are lowered with a cold like this and you feel like your body is responding the way it does.
It's really sad, but I'm more relieved than stressed that it's happening like this.
“It gets a bit monotonous”
The first skiathlon of the season awaits in the morning. It will also be the only time the distance will be run before the Olympics in February. If Poromaa had been in charge, the World Cup program would have looked different.
"We have quite a few competitions before the championships start, but there won't be a single 5000m before the Olympics. Something like that should be able to be included somehow," he says.
Could one of the 10-kilometer races have been eliminated?
Yes, but I absolutely think so. I think it should be spread a little more.
Today's skiathlon in Trondheim starts at 11:10.
