Jarl Magnus Riiber will be having sleepless nights for a while after making the ultimate mistake in the men's Nordic combined event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The Norwegian, competing in the Nordic combined individual large hill/10 km biathlon event on Tuesday, was leading by a mammoth 44 seconds in the cross country leg and was strolling to the gold medal.
But little did he know that he had in fact taken a wrong turn - having been unable to learn and practice on the track at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center and Biathlon Center, after only just coming out of Covid isolation.
Riiber realised his mistake and sharply turned around, but he subsequently only managed an eighth-placed finish in the cross country race.
To make matters worse for him, he missed out on making it an all-Norwegian podium as compatriots Jorgen Graabak and Jens Luras Oftebro sealed gold and silver.
Riiber had done the hard work before his huge error, having won the individual large hill event with a jump of 142 metres, claiming 139.8 points for his efforts.
It gave him a 44-second advantage heading into the 10km race but his mistake ended his hopes of gold, and a medal altogether, in Beijing.
"I feel like a complete idiot. That mistake took 30 seconds. It destroyed a lot", Riiber told Finnish broadcaster yle after his medal heartbreak.
Riiber only came out of isolation on Monday after contracting Covid earlier this month, meaning he couldn't practice and learn the ins and outs of the 10km track.
Speaking of his recovery from Covid, Riiber admitted: "I was sore for two days. We do not know the long-term effects of the corona. I have to say, though, that I didn't feel healthy.
"I have to be realistic. There was a really small chance of a good result today. It is not ideal to be sore and isolated for two weeks."
