Poland’s leading cross-country skier Justyna Kowalczyk withdrew from the 10km freestyle race at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy last week. Ms Kowalczyk watched the race on television instead, after deciding that the effort it would take to make the podium would have had a detrimental effect on her preparations for the most important race for her – the Women’s 30km Classic – which was due to take place on Saturday.

Justyna Kowalczyk Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons