Halvor Egner Granerud Claims They Are Trying to Silence Him

Halvor Egner Granerud, once a leading ski jumper in the world, has expressed concerns that the International Ski Federation (FIS) is attempting to silence him after his candid comments in the media. He noted that he did not receive a clear message indicating he was being silenced, but was asked to focus on internal matters rather than external ones.

After protests from Norwegian athletes following the competition in Ruka in late November, Granerud had previously voiced his frustrations, stating it felt like jumping into a tumble dryer regarding the conditions of the events. Following some heated interviews on Norwegian television where he criticized the event organizers in Ruka, he received advice from FIS to temper his public discourse.

During the event in Wisła, he adopted a more cautious approach, refraining from criticism. Magnus Brevig, Norway's coach, denied trying to suppress his athletes' opinions, acknowledging that ski jumping can be an unpredictable sport and that such situations can happen.

Granerud reflected on the emotional turbulence of the previous week and confirmed he felt justified in his critique stating that his and Robert Johansson's experiences during the weekend had been significantly affected, remarking on the psychological aspects of extreme sports.

Looking forward, Norwegian ski jumpers are set to compete in three competitions in Titisee-Neustadt, with the duo event on December 13, followed by individual competitions on December 14 and 15.