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Winter Olympics 2026: ski cross, bobsleigh, aerials and more on day 15 – live
#Winter Olympics 2026#Sweden biathlon#Ski waxing#Milano-Cortina#Olympic performance#Men's mass start#Sports equipment#Biathlon results
📌 Key Takeaways
Swedish biathletes blamed poor waxing for disappointing Olympic performance
The team, usually medal contenders, finished far off the podium
Sebastian Samuelsson called his skis 'the worst I ever had'
Proper ski waxing is crucial for performance in winter sports
The incident occurred on the final day of the 2026 Winter Olympics
📖 Full Retelling
Sweden's biathlon team publicly blamed their poor waxing team after an embarrassing performance in the men's mass start at the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano-Cortina on February 4, 2026, with the usually competitive Swedish athletes finishing far off the podium as the Games reached their final day. The Swedish biathletes, typically counted among favorites in any biathlon event, had a dismal day in the final men's race of the Games. Sebastian Samuelsson finished 18th, Martin Ponsiluoma 21st, and Jesper Nelin 26th in the 30-man field. Samuelsson expressed his frustration to Swedish television, stating 'The skis were the worst I ever had. They were crap,' adding that 'Today the glide from the skis was very bad... I'm here to fight for medals, but today I go without.' Ski waxing represents one of the most critical elements of race preparation for biathletes and cross-country skiers. Getting the wax blend right for specific snow conditions, temperature, and altitude can help athletes achieve optimal speed around the course, while a poor wax job can make skiing feel like moving through treacle, potentially costing crucial seconds that separate medal contenders from also-rans.
Sports equipment, also called sporting goods, are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear that vary in shape, size, and usage in a particular sport. It includes balls, nets, rackets, protective gears like helmets, goggles, etc. Since the performer must use sports equipment, it can also serve for pro...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
Sweden's biathlon team, long considered medal contenders, suffered a major setback due to faulty ski waxing, highlighting the critical role of equipment preparation in high level competition. The incident may prompt a review of national waxing protocols and could affect Sweden's performance in future events.
Context & Background
Biathlon relies heavily on ski waxing for optimal glide
Swedish athletes had previously been strong medal prospects
The mass start was the final men's event of the Games
What Happens Next
Swedish officials are likely to investigate the waxing team's procedures and consider changes to avoid repeat failures. The team will focus on refining equipment preparation for upcoming competitions.
The waxing team used a blend that was unsuitable for the snow, temperature, and altitude conditions, resulting in poor glide.
Will Sweden change its waxing strategy?
Yes, they plan to review and adjust their waxing protocols to prevent future mishaps.
Original Source
2m ago 06.27 EST A bad wax job Sweden’s biathletes have struggled to deliver medals at the Winter Games and on Friday they finally ran out of patience with their waxing team, blaming a bad job on their skis for an embarrassingly poor performance in the men’s mass start. Usually counted among favourites in any biathlon event, the Swedes had a dismal day in the final men’s race of the Games, with Sebastian Samuelsson finishing 18th, Martin Ponsiluoma 21st and Jesper Nelin 26th in the 30-man field. “The skis were the worst I ever had. They were crap,” a frustrated Samuelsson told Swedish TV after the race. “Today the glide from the skis was very bad ... I’m here to fight for medals, but today I go without.“ Ski waxing is one of the most important elements of race preparation for biathletes and cross-country skiers, and getting the blend right for the combination of snow, temperature and altitude helps the athletes fly around the course, while getting it wrong makes it akin to skiing through treacle. Reuters
