VM-hopper trekker seg fra verdenscupen – Norge vurderer å trekke hele laget

Benjamin Østvold, a prominent ski jumper, has decided to withdraw from the remaining events of the World Cup season due to exhaustion. This decision comes after several of his teammates faced suspensions related to serious infractions concerning manipulated jumping suits during recent competitions at the World Championships.

Sport chief Jan-Erik Aalbu indicated that the entire team's participation is under review in light of these challenges, and there is significant pressure on the athletes to perform.

Østvold expressed that he does not feel sufficiently focused to compete safely. "Right now, I am not in a state where I can commit fully to jumping," he reflected.

As a result, there are conversations within the Norwegian ski federation about potentially withdrawing the entire men's team from the competition until the situation stabilizes. Similarly, Østvold is the only team member not under suspension, but he feels the psychological burden of the scandal.

The decision of whether to continue competing will be based on a thorough assessment to prioritize the athletes' wellbeing.

This season has seen a turbulent climate in Norwegian ski jumping, particularly with the fallout from the suspensions of key athletes like Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, amid revelations of systematic cheating practices within the team. This scenario has left many within the organization feeling as though they are in crisis management mode and fogging their competitive spirit with such repercussions.

Benjamin Østvold's preference was to keep competing, highlighting that he was ready to face the challenges but concluded that mental fatigue played a crucial role in his decision to step back. He hopes for a resolution that brings positivity to the sport so that trust might be rebuilt with the fans and sponsors of Norway's ski jumping future.

"Right now, I need to take a step back and find my focus by not putting myself in a jumping environment where I'm not fully prepared," stated Østvold.