World Cup newcomer experienced blood clot at 20 - advised to retire

For two weeks ago, biathlete from Rogne in Øystre Slidre participated in the Norwegian Cup - which for the first time gave her a spot in the IBU Cup the following weekend.

On Monday, the news she had previously only dreamed of came: the 25-year-old is ready for the World Cup in Hochfilzen after Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold decided to stand over after challenges with heart rhythm disturbances.

– I was a bit shocked that I was going to participate in the IBU Cup at Geilo, and then it was an extra shock to go here, Marit Øygard tells NRK.

BACK: Despite many setbacks, Marit Øygard is ready to test herself against the best in the world.

The road to the top has been both short and long at the same time. Øygard has been involved in biathlon since a young age, but as early as 2019, her career could have been over. She suffered a blood clot in her left leg.

– Getting a blood clot is hardly a top athlete's dream, so I try to focus as little as possible on it because there’s nothing to do about it. It was the fate I was handed, and I have to try to work around it, explains the biathlete.

Advised to give up

Her father, Ottar Øygard, recounts that it was her mother, who is a doctor, who figured out the pain that their daughter had felt for several weeks.

– It was the night before Christmas, and we went directly to the hospital the next day and got an X-ray. It turned out to be a blood clot from the calf to the pelvis, says Ottar Øygard.

She received close follow-up, and the 25-year-old shares that several experts suggested it was too challenging to combine a blood clot with a top athlete career.

– But I’m a bit stubborn, so when someone says you shouldn’t do that at all, I think I’ll at least do it, admits Øygard.

ON THE SIDELINES: Marit Øygard was present at events even while she was hobbling around on crutches.

– I understand that it may not be compatible to have defective blood vessels when doing endurance sports, but I have just tried, and it has gone well. As long as I have enough energy and good shape, I just have to focus and go as fast as I can, she adds.

Due to the blood clot, it has taken a long time to find out what works best for her training. She can still experience more lactic acid in the left foot than the right, so she pushes harder in easier terrain and saves some energy in uphill sections.

– This is how it will always be, so I just have to learn to stand with it, states Øygard.

Facial paralysis occurred

But not long after the blood clot, more challenges arose for the biathlon talent. For uncertain reasons, she suddenly developed facial paralysis.

– There were many hospital visits during that time. And it was like the left side of my face stopped working, and I had to drink with a straw, but that didn’t affect me much in sport; it was just uncomfortable, she explains.

TALENT: Marit Øygard during the opening races at Sjusjøen in 2018.

Now, several years later, Øygard feels that she has learned a lot from all the hardship. That it has made her stronger.

– It has probably led me to find a plan B in life. And a bit more peace around it. If I don’t succeed in biathlon, that’s absolutely fine too. It makes me enjoy the sport a bit more and it’s not so scary to stand on the starting line, Øygard believes.

– What is plan B, then?

– Ideally, to get into medical school, but that’s easier said than done as well, so I’m slowly but surely working towards that goal.

STRENGTH: The entire Øygard family are ski and biathlon enthusiasts. Here Marit stands on the top of the podium in 2013.

Not on a team – training alone

At least finally, everything is running smoothly in sports. Despite the fact that she doesn’t belong to any team and mostly trains alone.

– I think it’s really cool that Marit has decided to pursue her goals on her own this year, and then it goes so well for her in a short time. I know she has had a lot of trouble with various things, so I wish Marit all the best this season, says Juni Arnekleiv, who previously trained with Øygard on the junior team.

TEAMMATES: Karoline Knotten (left) and Juni Arnekleiv during training in Hochfilzen.

Karoline Knotten also knows Øygard from before.

– It’s impressive, and a great example that you can go from the Norwegian Cup to IBU Cup and then straight to the World Cup. That shows the ability to perform when it matters and utilize the opportunities you get, Knotten praises.

– All of us who are closest to her are not too surprised that she is at this level, but we think it has gone very quickly, admits father Øygard.

Because she has never competed at the highest level, she finds it difficult to say how it will go. But she certainly does not want to be called Tandrevold’s replacement.

– I don’t want that on myself. I hope nobody expects that at least. I will go as fast as I can and shoot as well as I can, and try to enjoy it and just soak it in, Øygard laughs.

Published 12.12.2024, at 19:52