LENZERHEIDE (VG) Cross-country manager Espen Biervig says Ingfeld-Flügstad-Ostberg, 31, has fallen a lot after the health situation has changed, but he doesn’t think the Ski Association could have done it differently.
– Now there is a medical and “friendly” follow-up with colleagues, management and coaches. She is part of the team, but unfortunately without an approved health certificate. We have a conversation with Ingvild along the way, says cross-country manager Espen Bervig for VG in Lenzerheide.
Østberg lost significant parts of the 2019/20 season and the entire 2020/21 season because she did not meet the health certification requirements. As she suffered last year Fatigue fracture of the foot.
In November, Ostberg returned after 636 days without cross-country skiing. I’ve run three races this season, and the development has been promising.
Ostberg showed progress in Davos in particular, finishing eighth in the 10km. National team coach Ole Morten Iversen said after the weekend (December 11-12) that Østberg was close to the Olympic stadium.
But Christmas came in space counter message. Ostberg’s health isn’t good enough to go cross-country skiing, and she Lose the Olympics in February.
“Dreams are shattered, but I can do nothing but look forward,” Ostberg said.
There have been painful conversations, Bervig says.
– Of course it’s very difficult. Harder for her, but a very difficult conversation with a practitioner. She had an arrow pointing straight up, so her health just didn’t keep up. We had a long chat before Christmas and had a conversation yesterday (Monday). She sits and watches, but she’s having a hard time now.
The discussion in the comment heated up after the last refusal to start. NRK commentator Jan Peter Saltvedt It is believed that the Ski Association was not responsible enough to act in Ostberg, while Biervig himself struck hard against the allegations TV 2.
He describes the plan that has been put in place – with no race on Betostolen, then one at Rocca, Lillehammer and Davos – as “cautious”.
– Then you can see later that it was probably too much of a burden, but I don’t think we could have done much differently. These are objective parameters that must be controlled according to. If athletes want to go too, that’s also their option, says Bjervig.
Olympic champion Ragnhild Haga, who is now fighting for his transfer to Beijing, is saddened on behalf of Ostberg.
– Of course, it’s very boring and sad. I was hoping that you would recover, and that the condition would get better. But it is important to put health first. It’s life after sports, too, so it’s a good idea to take care of it, says Haga.
She thinks it’s strange without three of Norway’s biggest stars on the Tour de Ski.
– I signed up with her, and I miss her on tour. Strange to be here without Østberg, Therese Johaug or Maiken Caspersen Falla. But we’re still a nice group anyway. Then I hope some of them come back and leave their mark on the set, says Haga.
Heidi Wing may be Norway’s biggest hope in the Tour de Ski:
“Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner.”
