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Devastated Iversen seeks comfort, apologizes to crowd: "Embarrassing"
🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Devastated Iversen seeks comfort, apologizes to crowd: "Embarrassing"

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Norwegian skier Emil Iversen finished 54th, 10 minutes behind the winner, in a 53-kilometer race at the Toppidrettsveka event.
  • Iversen described his performance as

Emil Iversen, a 35-year-old Norwegian skier, experienced a devastating performance at the Toppidrettsveka event, finishing 54th in a 53-kilometer race and a full 10 minutes behind the winner, Johan Hoel. The athlete, who had felt he was in a good place during his training leading up to the competition, was deeply disappointed with his result.

It was painful. I was sad, depressed, and dark of mind. I was embarrassed, sorry, cold, tired. And embarrassed again.

— Emil IversenIversen described his feelings during the race.

"It was painful. I was sad, depressed, and dark of mind. I was embarrassed, sorry, cold, tired. And embarrassed again," Iversen told VG, describing his feelings during the race. He managed to stay with the pack for only about 15 kilometers before his strength gave out, turning the remainder of the race into a struggle to reach the finish line.

Even fellow competitor Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who also had a difficult comeback, acknowledged the poor performance. "Yes, it doesn't mean that much, but when you feel like a bucket of shit and can't do anything without getting lactic acid from toe to ear... But such a bad feeling and performance... It's just boring when you've been at altitude and put in good work over the summer," Klæbo said.

Yes, it doesn't mean that much, but when you feel like a bucket of shit and can't do anything without getting lactic acid from toe to ear... But such a bad feeling and performance... It's just boring when you've been at altitude and put in good work over the summer.

— Johannes Høsflot KlæboKlæbo commented on his own difficult comeback and Iversen's performance.

Harald Østberg Amundsen, another national team skier who finished 8th, offered Iversen some advice, partly in jest. "If I were him, I would get some blood tests at Olympiatoppen on Monday and check my status. I will talk to him afterwards and recommend it," Amundsen told VG. Iversen plans to continue in the Toppidrettsveka with a mountain race on Saturday, but acknowledged the need to work with his psychologist to overcome this low point in his career.

If I were him, I would get some blood tests at Olympiatoppen on Monday and check my status. I will talk to him afterwards and recommend it.

— Harald Østberg AmundsenAmundsen offered advice to Iversen.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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