Norway Revamps Nordic Combined Teams Ahead of World Championships

Norway's Nordic combined team is undergoing a significant transformation for the upcoming season, reducing its roster from 13 athletes to a streamlined A-group of six. This new team will consist of three men and three women, a notable shift from the previous lineup which included nine men and four women.

According to sports chief Ivar Stuan, the consolidation into a single team is aimed at enhancing performance by concentrating on the most elite athletes. The members of the newly formed A-team are Jørgen Graabak, Ida Marie Hagen, Gyda Westvold Hansen, Mari Leinan Lund, Jens Lurås Oftebro, and Jarl Magnus Riiber.

Complementing the A-team, the B-team will feature athletes such as Marte Leinan Lund, Espen Andersen, Espen Bjørnstad, Kasper Moen Flatla, Einar Lurås Oftebro, Aleksander Skoglund, Andreas Skoglund, and Simen Tiller. This group will train predominantly with their regional teams, a decision influenced by economic considerations.

The primary goal of this restructuring is to achieve stellar results, with a focus on the upcoming World Championships in Trondheim and the Winter Olympics in Italy in 2026. By optimizing resource management and providing more support to top-tier athletes, Norway aims to enhance its standing in the Nordic combined discipline.