CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (3)

Back in 2011 I wondered why the Norwegians are so good at cross-country skiing. They still are. In the recent Nordic world championships they won more gold medals than all of the other countries combined, 11 out of 21. In fact, their cross-country skiing prowess is even greater, since the Nordics include events such as biathlon and the combined, where the Norwegians are merely very good.

Norway's dominance is not quite as crushing as Holland's in speed-skating, but it's close. And whereas there is only really one low-lying, frozen swamp in the world, there are a number of countries with similar terrains and populations. Sweden and Finland, for instance. Don't get me wrong, they are good at cross-country skiing, it's just that the Norwegians are even better.

Walter Blotscher