Surprising Biathlon Shock! "I am incredibly sad and disappointed"

Originally published in SPORT1 on April 11, 2025

Surprising Biathlon Shock! "I am incredibly sad and disappointed"

Big trouble within the Norwegian biathlon national team: The federation has removed Karoline Offigstad Knotten from the official roster for the coming winter because the 30-year-old is dissatisfied with the training focuses.

Karoline Offigstad Knotten will not be part of the Norwegian national team this winter

This dismissal comes as a surprise: Karoline Offigstad Knotten, last winter's second best Norwegian with a 14th place in the overall World Cup, will not be part of the Norwegian biathlon national team next season and will be replaced by Ragnhild Femsteinevik (29). The federation made this official during its announcement for the Olympic year.

The disagreement appears to stem from issues between Knotten and the officials. The central point of contention: how training should be structured with regard to the 2026 Olympic Games. The federation has outlined a clear plan that the athletes should follow together. However, Knotten has reportedly expressed that this does not suit her and she prefers to set different priorities.

"We need athletes who fully support the program and trust that it is the plan that offers each individual the best chances of success," said Per Arne Botnan, head of the national team. "We and Karoline Knotten have different wishes and needs for the next season. Therefore, we decided that Karoline will not be part of the national team."

Yet even though Botnan spoke of we , Knotten revealed she was caught completely off guard by the firing. "It was a shock," the 30-year-old told NRK. "I find it incredibly sad and I am disappointed." She said she could not understand the decision and had even expressed strongly that she wanted to remain part of the team.

Knotten reported that her primary concern was about altitude training, which she has been practicing for over a decade. "But I am not allowed to utilize this experience because everyone is supposed to do the same," said the Norwegian, who emphasized that each athlete reacts differently to altitude training. Therefore, she questioned the federation's plan. "Being curious does not mean being disloyal," she added.

From now on, the girlfriend of German biathlete Philipp Nawrath will largely be on her own regarding training planning during the preseason. The Norwegian federation will only provide her with the equipment. However, she still has chances for World Cup starts. In Norway, there are several athletes not on the national roster who still represent the country at international competitions.

Other news include shocking reports of a withdrawal wave in the French biathlon federation and emotional insights from biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot regarding her rivalry with Franziska Preuß.