“I can’t hide the truth any longer,” Krista Pärmäkoski told the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti.

The national team veteran marched out of the finish area and through the press zone after the World Championship relay on Friday afternoon. If you looked closely, you could see the 33-year-old limping slightly on her right leg. Now, she is opening up about her nightmare season.

Injured Since Before Christmas

The reason for the limp is an injury to her hip flexor, which the Finnish ski star has been struggling with since the World Cup in Davos before Christmas. It’s the same injury that kept Pärmäkoski from competing in the World Cup in Falun before the World Championships.

“It was a tactical decision not to talk about it before the World Championships,” Pärmäkoski explained.

“The injury hasn’t bothered me too much in competitions, but it has been a hindrance in training.”

However, Pärmäkoski has had to rely on strong painkillers.

The injury nightmare is now forcing Pärmäkoski to end her season several weeks earlier than planned. The World Cup weekend in Oslo from March 15 to 16 will be her last race this winter. After that, she faces several months of rehabilitation and recovery.

Cleared to Compete at Worlds

The Finnish national team veteran, now in her 13th season at the World Cup level, emphasized that she had received medical clearance to compete at the World Championships.

“It’s up to me when I want to end the season. Even if the tear in the hip flexor gets slightly worse, it won’t change the treatment or rehabilitation process,” Pärmäkoski said.

“First, I’ll have two weeks without any training, then a very gradual build-up over at least six weeks. The doctors say it could take up to ten weeks. So, I’m aiming for eight.”

A Tough Period

This is the most serious injury of Pärmäkoski’s career so far, adding to a long stretch of various challenges.

It wasn’t until early June last year that Krista Pärmäkoski finally decided to continue her career. Shortly after, the 33-year-old revealed that she and her husband were divorcing after ten years of marriage.

Last fall, Pärmäkoski released her autobiography, Avoin, which translates to Open in Norwegian, written by author Laura Arffman.

In the book, she candidly shares her life behind the scenes, years of anxiety and turmoil, internal conflicts within the national team, bullying, and exclusion.

Also Read: Cross-country skiing program for the Trondheim World Championships