Calle Halfvarsson refuses to give up Olympic dream

Calle Halfvarsson refuses to give up his Olympic dream

Updated yesterday 18:16 — Published yesterday 14:35

As late as yesterday Calle Halfvarsson still harboured a small hope of making the Olympic team. Even though the 36-year-old ended up just over a minute behind the winner in the Scandinavian Cup 10 km in Vantaa, Finland, the incurable optimist still has faith.

"I still feel hope somewhere," the Swede told SVT Sport.

In truth it should probably be over by now. The national team management has on several occasions said that only exceptional results in the Scandinavian Cup will make Halfvarsson a candidate for selection.

But Halfvarsson refuses to give up. He sees a sign of form coming and hopes he can show it at the forthcoming national races in Falun next weekend.

"This can be recovered if I just get into shape," Halfvarsson says stubbornly to SVT's reporter in Finland.

"If I get to the Olympics it would be the world's bingo and, as it looks now, there's still a long way to go."