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– A signal that the ski management is doing exactly what it wants – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast program

by Horace Rogers

Among those who react is Ola Kvisle. He is the coach of the Norconsult team and is responsible for worker Silje Øyre Slind and comet Elena Rise Johnsen.

Kvisle starts off by saying it’s good that Østberg is back on track and believes she will already go fast when the World Cup opens last weekend in November.

Having said that, I think it is fundamentally wrong that an athlete is sent directly to Ruka without having to qualify in Beitostølen, after such a long period of inactivity. This sends the signal that the management of the Norwegian Ski Association is doing exactly what they want and showing little to no respect for the second best and the extent of Norwegian cross country skiing, Kvisle told NRK.

– An alliance for the elite

It has been almost 20 months since Østberg has not raced. Since then, she has withstood two stress fractures due to poor nutritional status, and at the same time, she did not meet all the requirements for the Norwegian Ski Association’s health certificate.

Norconsult team coach Ola Kvisle (right), here with Elena Rise Johnsen who won Top Sports Week this summer.

Photo credit: Mikal Aaserud / NRK

Monday of last week, however, Østberg was allowed to cross-country ski. But she will have a smooth start to the season and does not have to compete in the national cross country opener in Beitostølen next weekend to qualify for World Cup races.

– In my opinion, this is another example of the ski association being an association for the elite, and especially just for the elite, says Kvisle and continues:

– On the one hand, it’s good that the Ski Association wants to take care of their own athletes, but it doesn’t seem like they are thinking about the consequences this has for the rest of Norwegian cross-country skiing, both short and long term. In any case, I wish Ingvild the best of luck for the start of the season.

– Can ask questions

NRK expert Fredrik Aukland is also skeptical about the election.

– Historically, Ingvild has results that undoubtedly qualify her to go to the World Cup. But it is questionable whether she can go to a World Cup race without having skied for a very, very long time and the fact that she does not go to a ski race in advance like in Beitostølen . It is very rare that we see them, says Aukland.

Fredrik Aukland in mixed zone

NRK EXPERT: Fredrik Aukland, pictured here last winter.

Photo: Ole Martin Wold / NTB

– A cynical national team coach

National team coach Ole Morten Iversen “not really” answers NRK’s ​​question if he had any doubts about giving Østberg the chance to make the World Cup without her running for a long, long time.

– But now I’m a cynical national team coach, I think about the Olympics and the medal opportunities, he said.

He admits that in principle it had been taken into account in most other cases. But in Østberg’s situation, he, cross-country coach Espen Bjervig and national team doctor Øystein Andersen are 100 percent in agreement that she should start the season cautiously.

– We agree that she has to go three ski races before Christmas. It’s classic 10 kilometers in Ruka, it’s 15 kilometers with a ski change in Lillehammer and it’s 10 kilometers freestyle in Davos, says Iversen.

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GIVE ØSTBERG A CHANCE: National team coach Ole Morten Iversen (right), in conversation with Ingvild Flugstad Østberg in a meeting in 2020.

Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

– Must be cynical and brutal

The first two mentions of Iversen here are pure Olympic qualifying races, while the last in Davos, Switzerland is at the relevant Olympic height.

– In this photo, she doesn’t have to qualify. It’s about making the best possible arrangements to join an Olympic team. We think Ingvild deserves this.

– I don’t have a bad conscience for that. It is permissible to be skeptical. She takes the place of another. But top-level sports have to be cynical and brutal. It might sound a little strange, but we have to try to think of Ingvild, but we also did and Ski-Norge in the lead, says Iversen.

– Wouldn’t it have been more logical to start in Beitostølen?

– We will limit competitive activities, there are certain requirements for the Olympics and now she has the opportunity to qualify there instead of going to Beitostølen. You could say it’s unfair to others, but we think it’s fair to her.

Ensures the best presumed optimal preparations

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MAKES Tough PRIORITIES: Cross country manager Espen Bjervig, pictured here earlier in the season.

Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB

Cross-country manager Espen Bjervig has the final say on withdrawals. He comments on Kvisle’s harsh criticisms as follows:

– There are always a lot of opinions and a lot of emotions around withdrawals. My job at the elite level during an Olympic season is to ensure that we have the best possible team ready to start the Olympics. This means that choices and priorities must be made to ensure that the presumed best receive optimal preparation.

Bjervig also points out that it is clearly emphasized that elite runners will be given priority for the World Cup race before Christmas is clearly indicated in the association’s seasonal information.

– But they will be judged at their discretion if they are in good enough shape to compete in the World Cup. With the tight World Cup schedule this year, probably more riders than before will have the opportunity to show off in international ski races.

– A delicate balance of what the environment thinks is right

Erik Bråten is the coach of another athlete who has to cover a difficult road to get to the Olympics. Ragnhild Haga was not deemed good enough for the national team this spring and has his own private program this season.

Bråten

Erik Bråten is the coach of Ragnhild Haga.

Photo: Private

Bråten says it is above all very gratifying that Østberg is back and that he sees the situation from both sides. He has been and still is associated with the Canadian national team, at the same time as he has the responsibility of coaching in Haga’s private endeavors.

– It’s a delicate balance between what the environment thinks is right and we have made internal considerations and think it is the best. I guess there are many evaluations that they have done in this case here. More “locked” places are not good for Ragnhild who is my main priority now, so purely selfishly the eye of the needle is even narrower no matter how fast it goes.

– At the same time, I don’t know what kind of foundation is at the bottom here. Good reviews have probably been made. And then I have so much confidence in Ragnhild, but it gets a little more difficult, says Bråten.

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