Winter Olympics 2022: 'F*****g joke!’ - Andrew Musgrave slams decision to reduce 50km mass start route due to weather
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Updated 19/02/2022 at 09:05 GMT
Team GB’s Andrew Musgrave was scheduled to battle the tough conditions in Beijing 2022 in a bid to medal in the men’s 50km mass start, but FIS significantly shortened the route due to the poor weather conditions. He took to Twitter to vent his frustration at the decision, that saw the original route almost halved: “It’s a f*****g joke!” he tweeted.
BEIJING, CHINA - February 02: Andrew Musgrave of Great Britain training at the Zhangiakou National Cross Country Centre in preparation for the forth coming Winter Olympic Games on February 2nd, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Gett
Image credit: Eurosport
Great Britain’s Andrew Musgrave took to social media to slam the Federation of International Skiing’s (FIS) decision to shorten the 50km mass start race to 30km.
The 31-year-old cross-country skier from Poole was due to compete for his first Olympic medal at 06:00 GMT on Saturday morning, before the event was delayed for at least an hour.
FIS then announced the race would be reduced by 20km due to extreme ‘strong winds and cold’ conditions, a decision that did not sit well with Musgrave.
“FIS have just shortened the Olympic 50km to a 28km because it's a bit cold and windy,” he said on Twitter.
“I don't see that that will make it any warmer or less windy.
“It’s a f*****g joke!”
Musgrave eventually finished a respectable 12th in the event, which was won by Russian Alexander Bolshunov.
Reacting to Musgrave's tweet, former cross-country skier Martin Johnsrud Sundby said on Eurosport:
"It is not uncommon for athletes to disagree with such decisions.
"Andrew is one of the toughest guys in the class... There is probably a bit of frustration among the athletes now, and I think most of them are ready to walk 50 km here.
"The jury has probably pondered a bit, and the fact that it will not be moved to tomorrow, for example, is probably also part of the frustration of the athletes. It's probably not just the Twitter message to Musgrave, it's probably a broad frustration."
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