By Teemu Virtanen

Lager 157 Ski Team’s Anton Karlsson, the winner of the sprint competition from last season, seemed to be in great shape when he won the 48 km long Alliansloppet roller-ski race in August – he later got disqualified. Everything seemed to be going his way, but at the training camp in Åre, Sweden, he started feel to pain on his back, and an x-ray check-up revealed that he had spinal disc herniation.

“My future is uncertain,” says Karlsson. “It will take time to rehabilitate my back, but I have a good medical team around me and the greatest support from my teammates."

For Karlsson, an intensive rehab has already started, and there is still a chance that he can return to skiing and race this coming winter. However, he might have to submit himself to a back surgery and if that is the case, it will certainly take much longer for him to recover. Only time will tell!