MILAN — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, the Norwegian cross-country skiing star, arrived at the Winter Olympics in the Dolomites facing a familiar pressure: the pursuit of gold. But this year, a surprisingly modern obstacle threatened to derail his preparation – a weak internet connection.
Klaebo, already a five-time Olympic champion, is attempting to secure an unprecedented six gold medals at a single Winter Games, edging closer to the all-time record of eight held by fellow Norwegian Marit Bjoergen. The 29-year-old is also the reigning world champion across all six cross-country events, earning him the moniker “King” within the sport. His dominance is such that, according to observers, few competitors appear capable of challenging his reign.
However, the path to Olympic glory isn’t solely defined by physical endurance and technical skill. Klaebo relies on a crucial element of mental preparation: video games. Specifically, he finds solace and a crucial mental break in playing “Battlefield,” a first-person shooting game. He travels with a screen and console, recognizing the need to switch off from the intense focus required for competition and to facilitate recovery during his extensive travel schedule – more than 250 days on the road annually.
“A great way to switch your mind off,” Klaebo explained. “I need the nerves to be able to perform at my highest level and in the evenings, I just try to play a little bit (online) with my friends back home and talk about different things than skiing. And I feel like that helps.”
But upon arriving in Tesero, the mountain town hosting the cross-country skiing events, Klaebo encountered a frustrating impediment. His Playstation struggled to connect to the internet. “The conclusion was that the internet was a bit too weak,” he said last week. He jokingly suggested that Italian authorities needed to intervene. “Now we have put Italy to work here and we will see if someone comes and fixes it. In the worst case someone turns up and cables up my internet. Then the Olympics are saved. I depend on it completely so I am willing to pay a lot to get it sorted.”
The reliance on gaming for mental recuperation isn’t unique among the Norwegian team. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, a biathlete, revealed he engages in virtual battles with French competitors in “Battlefield” as a means of relaxation. “I’m taking lives in the virtual world,” Dale-Skjevdal told Reuters. “Since I’m not that good I don’t take that many lives, but I’m trying.” He also noted a temporary relocation within the Olympic village to secure a better connection.
The incident highlights the increasingly complex demands placed on elite athletes in the modern era. Beyond the physical and tactical preparation, maintaining mental well-being and establishing routines are now considered essential components of success. The need for reliable connectivity, once a convenience, has become a performance factor.
Despite the initial Wi-Fi woes, Klaebo’s performance hasn’t suffered. He secured a gold medal in the skiathlon on and followed it up with another gold in Tuesday’s sprint classic final, demonstrating an astonishing ability to sprint uphill on skis at a pace exceeding a six-minute mile.
With each victory, Klaebo moves closer to equalling the record for most gold medals won at the Winter Olympics, currently held jointly by three Norwegians. His latest win, his seventh Olympic gold, has left competitors in awe of his continued evolution and dominance.
Looking ahead, Klaebo anticipates celebrating his achievements in a manner befitting a modern athlete. “I guess I will celebrate with some evening games,” he said, a testament to the unexpected role of digital recreation in the pursuit of Olympic glory.
