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Their season was complete contradictions. While Kjetil Jansrud sat on the sidelines due to injury, Alexander Aamodt Kelde went from triumph to victory in sprints at the World Cup.
The two start Sunday at the Olympic Slope in Yanqing, in the mountains 70 kilometers north of Beijing with two very different starting points.
The source is preferred, Jansrud as an outsider.
Kjetil Jansrud has worked at record speed to come back from injury, ready for his fourth Olympics. Photo: Gregory Poole
– I feel lucky to be here, says Jansrud at the press conference three days before the race.
– Taking into account the fact that I will not be sent here as a tourist … It used to be difficult to get here and it seemed like a victory, but now everything is reduced to zero. The focus tends to move automatically.
For age 36 do not get posts. Collects medals, victories and podiums.
He knows how to achieve Olympic success. Even after long damage interruptions.
Painful and educational
At Sochi in 2014, the 28-year-old Finstra man won a miraculous Olympic gold one year after breaking his cruciate ligament. This time he got back on his feet much faster than expected and it was a shock when he announced his preparation for the Olympics two weeks ago.
But despite having only two months on the sidelines this time around, there are things he could take with him from the 2014 experience.
– I use that experience. Especially the last two weeks. Everything is a learning process. You learn a lot from good experiences and also honor a lot from less good experiences. Somehow, you take everything with you, Jansrud tells TV 2.
– What I personally carry with me here is the feeling that I am some kind of underdog. Not to be among the favourites, but to be able to be bitten by me. Knowing how you feel can be used positively.
Katil Jansrud was the flag bearer during Friday’s Olympic Opening Ceremony. Here he is with Maiken Caspersen Falla. Photo: Natasha Pisarenko
A big difference is the training competition.
– I’m somehow in a slightly different situation this time. I haven’t run any races and it feels like I’m starting a season of first practice here. Then you often have a good time. Now I have two days. It feels a little exhausting.
– Are there any benefits to a little competition?
The answer to that assumes that I know what is going on in the heads of Alexander and the others. Whether they’re mentally tired after a long season, or they notice it physically… I’ve come full of energy and have had many good experiences in recent weeks, says Jansrud before adding:
Perhaps the drawback is greater than not having a full season. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. For some, it will be the opposite. Adrian (Smiseth Sejersted) and I have a lot to win, while Alexander has absolutely won everything. I think this combination is good for the team.
A major role
Jansrud’s surprise return was met with cheers from Alexander Aamodt Kelde.
– I dug it up. I was sure he’d run it early in the process and crossed his fingers for it, says Keldy.
– Kjetil is an incredibly good guy to have on the team. Not only because he is a nice guy, but because he can help with a great experience. He can answer most things.
Alexander Kilde during a press conference with Norwegian boys in the Alps. Photo: Torstein Boe
I’m good at making those around me calm down. I push myself to perform, but we’re here to continue the good direction of the other boys. Jansrud says I m holding a drag.
– I hope Alexander will give a little peace, too. To not stand alone and bear the responsibility. And then it’s a good idea to share a room with him, so we can drag him to the floor after all the good results, says Jansrud and laughs.
A big level appears to be on its way for Alexander Aamodt Kelde who on Friday was the fastest ever in the second of three pre-race practice sessions. And Norwegian athletes love the course very well.
– It’s a great arcade with a beautiful location, high paced and some challenging technical moments. This makes driving a lot of fun, says Kjetil Jansrud.
It also doesn’t matter to him that the snow on the facility is 100 percent synthetic snow.
– Kunstnsø thrives very well without a mixture of natural snow, so there are great conditions from start to finish. It’s nice to drive.
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