Norwegian Women's Team Faces Setback in Kontiolahti Mass Start

Originally published in Eurosport on December 08, 2024

Norwegian Women's Team Faces Setback in Kontiolahti Mass Start

Elvira Öberg shot 18 targets and had an impressive final round to clinch victory in the mass start at Kontiolahti. The Norwegian competitors struggled during the standing shooting segment.

Karoline Knotten was the top performer for Norway, hitting 17 out of 20 targets, but ultimately there were no high placements for the team.

The Norwegian trio of Knotten, Juni Arnekleiv, and Gro Randby started off well with perfect shots in the first round, maintaining a strong position throughout the second round. However, on the second standing series, Arnekleiv and Knotten continued with five hits while Randby fell behind after a penalty round. Ultimately, all three Norwegian athletes struggled in the third shooting series.

— It was terrible. Too many misses. Now the train is leaving, said TV 2 expert Ole Einar Bjørndalen.

In the final series, both Knotten and Arnekleiv missed one shot each, while Randby hit two misses.

Heart Issues for Tandrevold

The women's world cup opening in Kontiolahti has been overshadowed by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold's heart issues. She experienced problems during Wednesday’s normal distance race while shooting.

— My heart was jumping and bouncing in a way it shouldn't, Tandrevold told TV 2.

The issues recurred on the weekend, causing concern among experts. — It’s hard to watch, said former teammate Tiril Eckhoff.

It was announced that Tandrevold would not compete in the mass start due to her heart issues, and she also withdrew from the upcoming races in Hochfilzen.

— I’ve had two incidents with heart rhythm disturbances, so there’s a high chance it could happen again. It often indicates that the body is out of balance, requiring a considerable amount of recovery. It’s critical to be careful and not just hope it passes, said Tandrevold during Sunday’s race.

The Norwegian skier has not been able to provide a timeline for her return to competition.

— Ingrid needs rest and recovery following episodes of rapid heart rate. We are in contact with a cardiologist to assess the way forward, stated doctor Aasne Fenne Hoksrud in a release on Sunday morning.