After the end of last season, the stars of the Norwegian women’s biathlon team have suffered from health concerns. The World Cup season starts at the end of November, and there is no certainty about the condition of all the athletes.
17:47•Updated 18:05
There are question marks surrounding the Norwegian women’s biathlon team before the start of the season. The team has suffered from health concerns during the training season and experts are talking about a crisis. Team athletes do not sign this.
The Norwegian biathlon season started last weekend in Sjusjöen with two speed races, but Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Marte Olsbu Röiseland and Tiril Kampenhaug Eckhoff were not on the line. Röiseland has been plagued by shingles during the training season, Tandrevold has suffered from the flu, and Eckhoff had the corona virus in March and struggled with sleep problems.
Despite this, the national team was on display as expected. Competed in the World Cup before Karoline Offigstad Knotten won both competitions. Ida Lien was second in Saturday’s competition. Made it to the national team for this season Ragnhild Femsteinevik also competed in Sjusjöen, without much success.
Former biathlete and current NRK expert Synnöve Solemdal sees the situation as exceptional compared to previous seasons. Tiril Eckhoff is not participating in the opening of the World Cup starting from Kontiolahti.
– I can’t think of the last time there were such omissions. I hope that they are already on their feet in Finland at the opening of the World Cup.
In biathlon, Norwegian women have been first in the overall team competition in the previous four seasons. Despite this, NRK’s expert From Ola Lunde can’t find much credit towards the national team’s challenger group.
– It is going to be hard. We have Marten and Tiril who are performing well and fighting for medals. In addition to them, we also have Ingrid. Next season it will be difficult to be the best country. The situation does not look bright, there is a crisis going on.
The national team’s Lien and Femsteinevik did not agree with the experts’ comments.
– I believe that experts do not need to worry. Ingrid and Marte are excited to return and I believe that everything will go well when the season starts properly, Lien states for NRK (you switch to another service).
– I understand what the experts mean, but we have been on the same level with Ingrid, Tiril and Marte in training, Femsteinevik continues.
Last season’s Norwegian contribution in the World Cup was commendable. Röiseland won the overall competition, Eckhoff finished in 11th place, Tandrevold in 15th place and Knotten in 29th place. The other Norwegians were not in the top 30. The situation of the Norwegians will possibly be seen in a couple of weeks at the opening of the World Cup in Kontiolahti.
Updated 18:05: Added information that Tiril Eckhoff is not with Kontiolahti.