Norwegian men emotional and bloody - Jasmi Joensuu understood the pain and praised the touching moment

At the Trondheim World Championships, the men's Nordic combined event concluded with a Norwegian sweep, marking a triumphant moment for the team. Winner Johannes Høsflot Kläbo’s victory was particularly emotional as it marked his first major championship win for normal distance events.

The other medals were contested up to the finishing line, with Martin Löwström Nyenget claiming silver and Harald Östberg Amundsen taking bronze. Jan Thomas Jenssen faced the bitter disappointment of finishing just short of a medal in fourth place.

Amundsen endured a dramatic race, even cutting his face in a fall as he crossed the finish line. Afterward, emotions ran high among the Norwegian athletes as they embraced and shared tears of joy and disappointment only minutes after the race.

The atmosphere in Trondheim was electric, with over 40,000 spectators embracing the competition in the woods and the stadium. "The feeling was incredible here. When combined with an unprecedented sense of nervousness, the emotions became extreme. I felt like I hadn’t slept at all the previous night," expressed Amundsen.

"These past days have been tough. We share our feelings and thoughts with each other daily. Supporting one another makes it emotional when we cross the finish line and can hug each other," he elaborated.

The Norwegian teamwork dynamic is a testament to their unity and competitiveness. Amundsen noted that while some are ecstatic after the crowds clear, others are left with palpable disappointment after failing to secure medals in their home championship.

That was evident when Kläbo sprinted across the finish line, sending waves of excitement and pride through the Norwegian supporters.

Joensuu understood the pain

In a live Instagram broadcast run by Yle Sports' skiing experts Kalle Lassila and Matias Strandvall, Jasmi Joensuu joined the discussion, highlighting the emotional release during Jenssen's interview that day.

"I just watched his interview. It was touching. Everything is at stake, and then comes that disappointment. I believe it’s quite valuable to show your emotions," Joensuu reflected.

Lassila also pointed out the inherent contradiction in skiing: although competitors are individual athletes, there exists a camaraderie within the team, creating an emotionally charged environment where medals can be decided by mere tenths of a second. Unlike other competitions, Jenssen fell a mere 0.1 seconds short of a medal, highlighting the razor-thin margins in high-stakes races.

The day also highlighted Finland’s surprise from Lauri Vuorinen, who captured an unexpected bronze medal, marking the first time a Finnish man has claimed a sprint medal at a major championship.

"After the sprint, I reflected on just how close everything is. Ultimately, it’s still just skiing. It’s amazing to compete here. Certainly, that’s true for the Norwegian crowd as well, considering the intense competition they face amongst one another," Joensuu described.