Cross-Country Skiing: William Poromaa Confronted by Norwegian Biathlete: 'Then I'm a Football Player'

Updated yesterday 20:00

Published yesterday 14:31

Norwegian biathlete Einar Hedegart shocked many by finishing second in the 10 km freestyle event in Holmenkollen, during only his second-ever World Cup appearance.

In his post-race comments, Poromaa jokingly remarked, "If he's a biathlete, I'm a football player." This light-hearted banter reflects the surprising outcomes of competitive skiing where unexpected victories can occur.

Hedegart has shown promise with his eighth-place finish in Lillehammer prior to this event, marking his only other World Cup before the thrilling race in Oslo.

"The conditions were tough. I took a significant risk and went out hard from the start," Hedegart shared with SVT Sport, expressing enthusiasm for his upcoming participation in the National Championships in biathlon in two weeks.

"I guess I’ll stop being a biathlete at the same time as Johannes Thingnes Bö?" he joked, speaking to his remarkable performance.

Poromaa, who had expected stronger outcomes considering his competitive edge, mentioned that he closely chased Hedegart for most of the race.

Although ultimately finishing sixth, Poromaa noted, "I was just three-tenths away from fourth place."

Hedegart's determination was evident as he led until around kilometer seven, where Harald Östberg Amundsen took the lead, finishing with a remarkable victory on a day filled with surprises.

Amundsen celebrated his first victory at Holmenkollen, elaborating on the thrill of overcoming a strong competitor like Hedegart, stating, "After two fourths, it tasted exceptionally sweet. I could pass Hedegart at the end, but he delivered an impressive performance."

Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, coming off his previous classic race, settled for a 14th place in this competition, yet managed to bounce back to secure a podium finish by claiming third place in today’s event. Despite the rumor that he has never won a freestyle event with individual start, his tenacity remains undeniable.