The sport was conceived by Finnish cross-country skiers looking for a way to train during the snowless summer months.
China ready to deliver safe Games
Portuguese Olympic cross-country skier Danny Silva joined one of the teams looking for exactly that kind of exercise.
"You can't run normally, and the swamp makes your legs very heavy -- that boosts your heart rate and it pumps your upper leg strength," he said, adding it was the Finnish training methodology that was the best part of it all.
"Athletes get way too serious when they train -- this is bizarre, but makes training so much more fun."
Photograph: Roni Rekomaa/AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
