Competing in arguably the toughest event on the cross-country skiing program, both athletes put in an incredible effort from the beginning to stay with the pack.

However, it wouldn’t be the day for the Australians, with Phil and Seve coming in 64th and 63rd respectively at the halfway point pit stop. They were lapped by the leaders and forced to withdraw from the race.

Phil Bellingham, at his third Olympic Games, didn’t like the way he felt leading into the race and at the start.

“It was a super tough day.” Phil said.

“Unfortunately things didn’t really go our way. I wasn’t feeling physically there right from the start and so I knew I didn’t have it.

“Even the skis weren’t 100% so I knew I was up against it right from the get go and it’s not my strongest event.

“I’m just going to try and look forward to the next events.”

In his first Olympics, Seve de Campo echoed Phil’s sentiments.

“It was my first long distance event as well. I wanted to have a crack.” Seve said.

“I knew, as Phil said, that we needed everything to go our way to get to the finish line today. That’s just the nature of the course and the calibre of the field.

“Unfortunately things just didn’t go our way, but I learnt that it’s an Olympic Games and if everything isn’t 100% then you get exposed.

“It’s the toughest race on the program and I’m looking forward to the rest of the events.”

Both Phil and Seve will be back in action on Tuesday 8 February with the men’s sprint, as they are set to compete in all the cross-country skiing events at the Games.

“I’m super happy just to be here,” Phil said.

“I’m stoked that I could go around for a third time and I’m going to look forward to the sprint and hopefully we can get things together more for that event.

“That one used to be a bit of a specialty for me so hopefully it will be a good event.”

Shannon Knaus

#HaveAGo