Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalvå have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Norwegian Olympic team’s precamp in Seiser Alm, Italy.

Norwegian Olympic team cross-country skiers Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalvå have tested positive for Covid-19. 

“This is a terrible situation for the team and of course extremely disappointing for those who have been infected,” says Norwegian national team physician Øystein Andersen. 

Could miss the entire Olympics
Weng and Kalvå are isolated from the team, and will remain isolated for at least ten days from the time of the positive test, which was Monday. The earliest they could be cleared is February 3. 

After this date, they will have to test negative for Covid-19 five times within four days before they can travel to China, then again upon arrival in China. 

The 2022 Olympics in Beijing start on February 4. The first cross-country race for the women is on February Saturday, February 5. 

“We of course have to see how the infection develops from here. There is a huge difference between being Covid-positive without symptoms staying in bed with a fever and for several days. We will not throw anyone into a race after a covid infection,” Andersen says. 

The whole team in quarantine
Therese Johaug and the rest of the women’s team have not tested positive for Covid, nor have any of the eight men in the Norwegian national team. 

This is Norway’s team to the 2022 Olympics 

However, all of them are defined as close contacts and placed in quarantine with daily testing. The Norwegian national team now remains in Seiser Alm, Italy until they travel to China. The earliest departure for the team minus Weng and Kalvå would be January 31.  

Moved to a different hotel
The Norwegian national team has stayed at the same hotel in Seiser Alm as the Finnish and the Russian national teams. 

On Wednesday, the Norwegian national team moved to a different hotel. In the new hotel, all the team members have separate rooms. Furthermore, all the athletes are eating alone in their rooms. 

They quarantined skiers only leave their rooms for outdoor workouts twice a day, and don’t socialize with others. The isolated skiers are not leaving their rooms at all. 

Have to consider Plan B options
At the moment, the Norwegian national team coaches have not contacted alternate athletes.

Team physician Andersen doesn’t rule out the possibility that Weng and Kalvå can make at least some of the races at the Olympics, barring severe Covid disease. However, the team directors are looking at options.

Team director Espen Bjervig confirms that he has a list of at least 6-7 potential alternates for both men and women. He also confirms that Ragnhild Haga is on that list. 

“We have to stick with the quotas of eight men and eight women. If we enter a new racer, one of the existing racers have to be withdrawn. That means, if we travel with eight racers, those are the eight racers we have. We cannot juggle racers back and forth while we are there, and for instance return two and then bring two others in,” Bjervig explains. 

The 2022 Olympics take place in Beijing from February 4 to 20. Check out the complete schedule for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, all sports. 

Last week, the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Organizing Committee announced that the 2022 Olympics will not be postponed or cancelled.