Jørgen Graabak's Rocky Road to Recovery: Overcoming Pain and Injuries Ahead of the World Championships

Jørgen Graabak's Rocky Road to Recovery: Overcoming Pain and Injuries Ahead of the World Championships

Published on September 21, 2024, by NRK Sport, prominent Nordic combined skier Jørgen Graabak opens up about a challenging series of accidents that have disrupted his training for the upcoming World Championships in Granåsen.

In a span of just three months, Graabak suffered four fractures that significantly impacted his preparation. His most recent injury, which he found so embarrassing he initially hesitated to disclose to his coaches, occurred after he broke his usual rule of avoiding roller skiing before May. The excitement surrounding the home World Championships drove him to push his limits, with regrettable consequences.

"Right now, I am enjoying not feeling pain anywhere," Graabak expressed with a smile in Granåsen, where he hopes to compete for medals in just a few months. Yet, his path to recovery has been anything but straightforward.

On April 29, during a roller skiing session, Graabak struck a rock with his front wheel, causing fractures in his elbow and hand. Two weeks after this incident, he continued to experience intense pain in his elbow, raising concerns that his injury might be more serious than initially thought.

"We began to wonder if there was something more than just the fracture. My arm was very swollen—it looked strange for someone without a large upper body," he explained, maintaining close communication with the national team doctor, Anders Heen, throughout his recovery.

Despite the setbacks he has faced, Graabak remains resolute in his determination to regain his form and perform admirably in front of a supportive home crowd.

Tags:

• Jørgen Graabak
• Granåsen
• Nordic combined skiing