In every other team, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen would have been used for a long time at the biathlon World Cup in Lenzerheide. In the Norwegian team, however, he is only a reservist. The prospect of the Olympic champion of Beijing was used in the season in the season on Sunday. However, he would not stand up there.
Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen cannot be envied in the days of the 2025 biathlon World Cup. The 32-year-old was appointed to the Norwegian squad, but he was only planned in advance in the men’s relay on Saturday. The role as a reservist stinks tremendously to Beijing’s relay Olympic champion.
“I hope this is the last time in my career,” he told “NRK” to his place on the bench. In the “VG” interview, he concretized: “Not being able to compete is the worst thing you can experience as an athlete. Yes, the environment is great, it is a wonderful trip, but we all want to meet on the damn route. “
It was clichéd to say something like that, “but life becomes meaningless. […] There is nothing more meaningless in professional sports than when things run against you. Then you have no job apart from the training. That is challenging, “said Christiansen unmistakably.
Biathlon star would not stand up in the season
If he was offered a place in the season, he would of course also accept it. “This is something that is rarely rejected, especially in this environment,” he said. Nevertheless, Christiansen also knows about the strength of his teammates, who could ultimately ensure that he remains at the World Cup without a single use.
He even admits that another biathlete would have earned the relay place more. “I see that especially ends [Strømsheim] physically improved. If I were a coach, I would set him up, “Christiansen knows that the worst case in Lenzerheide can definitely stand up for him.
He himself is in good shape and also feels well prepared at the shooting range. “But I’m just a reservist and I have the feeling that other bad performances would have to show so that I can get a chance,” said the 32-year-old.
The fact that Christiansen would only be a reservist at the World Cup in Lenzerheide was emerging early in the season. The veteran caught a good start to the winter in Kontiolahti, but then did not deliver any convincing results and was in the meantime sent to the IBU Cup. The three -time world champion could not appear very big in the 2nd league.