As I search for answers to what happened to me at the Olympics I have to recognize three glaring amateur mistakes.
1) I lost control of my emotions and allowed myself to wallow in depression after the 15k. I wasted a lot of energy with negative thoughts.
2) I spoke unguarded with a fasterskier reporter about how my skis were selected for the 15k race. I stated repeatedly that I did not fault my techs for the ski selection but the article placed blame directly on my staff. I will never treat any reporter, no matter how well I know them, as anything but the media. I apologize to the waxers at the Olympics who did great professional work for the duration of the games.
3) I finished the 30k after nearly passing out from hypoglycemia. This may seem admirable but it drained my glycogen stores to an irreparable state. My back seized so badly after the race that I could barely walk. I had no stores for the 50k.
