Kris Freeman: Men's 15km Classic
Scott Benner
Photo Credit: FasterSkier.com - Used with permission.
Kris competed earlier today in the Men's 15km Classic, his second of four scheduled Olympic events. Reports indicate that the course for today's 9+ mile race, were less than optimal. The snow was apparently "slushy" and the temperatures warm. American Erik Bjornsen finished 38th today, Fasterskier.com quotes him as saying, "It was harder than I was expecting".
Kris had this to say after he finished 52nd in a field of 92.
“It was one of the hardest courses I think I’ve ever raced on. It’s really slow and tons of elevation, and there’s that 3-minute sustained climb there… I was racing really cautiously because you can go right off the edge so easily… I was trying not to put the hurt on myself today”
I was hoping to wake up this morning and read about Kris having the race of his life, that didn't happen, but here's what I love about the interview quotes from Kris that I read on Faster Skier. Kris never mentions his diabetes - Representing the United States in Sochi as one of the best cross country skiers in the world, Kris's successes and shortcomings are never tied to type I diabetes. He's is just an athlete competing on a world stage. It's completely invigorating, as the parent of a child with type I, to see how little of an effect diabetes has on his skiing. There is no better message to pass on to our children then the one that says, diabetes can't stop you from achieving at your highest potential and it is never an excuse for moments that don't end as you'd hope.