Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Kris Freeman was approaching the 12th kilometer of the 30 km pursuit at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics when he noticed the first sign: An uphill climb seemed strangely difficult. He had been skiing well to that point, and had moved into a top 20 position. Then his body started shaking and wobbling. Freeman knew that roughly a kilometer ahead he had a coach waiting for him with a sports drink. But before he could make it, he collapsed in the snow.
Freeman, an American cross-country skier, was experiencing hypoglycemia, otherwise known as low blood sugar, a condition to which he is susceptible because he is a Type 1 diabetic, a rarity among professional and Olympic athletes.
After collapsing, Freeman received aid from the crowd, managing to acquire a sports drink and a GU packet from a spectator and finish the race. But the delay was costly: He fell far behind the pack and finished 45th. At the next race, the 50 km, Freeman did not finish. His Olympics ended in utter disappointment.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-o...diabetes-sochi-olympics-cross-country-skiing/
Freeman, an American cross-country skier, was experiencing hypoglycemia, otherwise known as low blood sugar, a condition to which he is susceptible because he is a Type 1 diabetic, a rarity among professional and Olympic athletes.
After collapsing, Freeman received aid from the crowd, managing to acquire a sports drink and a GU packet from a spectator and finish the race. But the delay was costly: He fell far behind the pack and finished 45th. At the next race, the 50 km, Freeman did not finish. His Olympics ended in utter disappointment.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-o...diabetes-sochi-olympics-cross-country-skiing/