FFriday, early evening in the mountains of Zhangjiakou: men’s 15 km cross-country race. In the end, the Norwegians win. No, this time a Finn. Winter Olympics 2022: Tessa Worley competes in her last Games, French cross-country skiers and biathletes are aiming for a medal”>Iivo Niskanen. The 30-year-old needs 37:54.80 minutes on the hilly course for his Olympic victory.
But the true heroes of this competition will not finish until much later. Not just because they started later than Niskanen. But also because they need almost 20 minutes longer for the 15 kilometers.
They are athletes from nations that don’t necessarily come to mind at the Winter Olympics. A Chilean, a Lebanese, a Montenegrin, a Mexican and a Colombian. They’re all going into the Beijing Games without a shred of a chance of winning. But that’s not what they’re about.
“I gave everything that was possible. It was a long road to start here. Representing my country here in this competition is just fantastic,” says Jonathan Soto Moreno, 28, after the race in an interview with WELT. The Mexican says proudly that his family, friends and the entire country were rooting for him. “I think that’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Sixth participant for Mexico
Moreno is only the sixth competitor Mexico has sent to the Winter Olympics. Having grown up in the Central American country, he moved to the USA with his family at the age of thirteen. In high school, a coach sparked his passion for the sport. Because Moreno also wanted to stay active in winter, he tried cross-country skis. The dream of the Olympics stuck in his head.
Jonathan Soto Moreno from Mexico at the moment of crossing the finish line – I had tears in my eyes”
What: AP/Aaron Favila
“I won’t lie. There were many days when I thought: What have I gotten myself into here? Why am I in this torment? Sometimes I regretted it, but the next day I believed that I would be rewarded at some point,” Moreno recalled the rocky path to the cross-country trail.
In order to be able to afford the necessary equipment and travel, a fundraising campaign was launched for Moreno. Only last year he took part in his first world championships in Oberstdorf.
“I hope I was able to inspire people today. Not only from a sporting point of view, but for life in general. I want to encourage people to take the risk of doing what they really want. It’s about being happy with yourself and your work, being great in your own way,” the Mexican shared his message after the race.
Race for the last place
At the end of the field, a race for last place had just developed. Yonathan Jesus Fernandez of Chile took 12:40.81 minutes longer than the Finnish winner and finished 91st. Snorting deeply, he waited for his competitors in the finish area.
Lebanese Elie Tawk rolled in almost exactly a minute later and settled into the snow just after the finish line. The 19-year-old stayed there for the time being. Another minute later, Aleksandar Grbovic, runner from Montenegro, finished his race. Tawk was still well chilled at the finish.
Only the Mexicans Moreno and Carlos Andres Quintana were now fighting against the clock on the course. First Moreno came to the finish. 94th place, 15:35.20 minutes slower than winner Niksanen. The Lebanese had now stood up and posed for souvenir photos at the side of the track.
The last few meters on the home stretch were very special, Moreno reported. “It was a wonderful moment. I felt the tears in my eyes,” he found emotional words. “I gave everything and then heard the cheering of the people along the route. All the emotions, all the hard work, it overwhelmed me. I’m full of pride.”
Colombian is last
On the course, Quintana gave it his all as his trainers cheered him on as he tackled the final climb. But the Colombian was even slower than Moreno. When the 36-year-old South American turned onto the home straight, the few spectators in the stands applauded louder. “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang rang out from the loudspeakers. At the finish, winner Niksanen waited for the last to congratulate. One of those moments that define Olympia.
Olympic champion Iivo Niskanen (right) waited at the finish for the last cross-country skier, Carlos Andres Quintana from Colombia
Source: AFP / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Visibly exhausted, Quintana dragged herself past the journalists after the exhausting race. At the finish he needed 17:47.1 minutes longer than the winner. He didn’t want to talk. Maybe he just didn’t have the air for it.
“Carlos is a good friend of mine,” Moreno said in the mixed zone. Before the race, the two had agreed to meet for dinner. “We’re going to eat some chicken sandwiches and celebrate,” revealed the penultimate. Quintana did a “great job”. Also finished 95th.
