Tiril Weng says that people can be fooled again. The Norwegian star has made a big account this season.
Norwegian skier Tiril Weng played quite a prank on Friday at the World Championships in Planica.
The Norwegian broadcasting company NRK had asked Weng for an interview before the couple’s message. Weng appeared at the reporter’s place, but the skier’s identical twin Lotta Weng.
Lotta Weng had the accreditation tag of her sister, who stayed behind to prepare for the competition, and the employees of NRK did not realize anything.
– That’s what happened. It’s not the first time we’ve done this. And certainly not the last, Tiril Weng tells Iltalehte.
Working as an expert for NRK Therese Johaug eventually exposed the scam.
– Therese will notice. I think that the female skiers and coaches of the national team also separate us from each other. Those who know us will notice the difference.
– Admittedly, the face mask and ski goggles make it difficult.
Tiril Weng thinks he’s cheating again. PASI LEISMA
The Wengs have joked about the same thing before.
– We have sometimes done the same trick at school. We can fool even our mother if we want to.
For Wenge, it’s a bit of an old joke.
– We were not surprised that no one noticed. It was probably more fun for the coaches than for us.
Bad feeling
Tiril Weng has opened his medal account. PASI LEISMA
Tiril Weng is one of the season’s comets.
The Norwegian took the first individual victory in the World Cup in the free sprint of Val Müstair. He has skied in the top three seven times this season.
At the Tour de Ski, Weng was third, but fell ill shortly after the tour.
Illness interrupted the upbeat season. At the beginning of February, Weng skied to 24th place in the free sprint and was 29th in the free sprint.
– Recovery took a long time. I was feeling pretty bad even when I came to Planica, he says.
Weng eventually skied sixth in the WC sprint and won Anne Kjersti Kalvån with the World Championship silver in the pairs relay. In the free ten, the ranking was twelfth.
– My condition is much better than last week. I’m happy about that. I am quite happy with the free ten.
On the way to the bank
Therese Johaug noticed Wengie’s scam. PASI LEISMA
Success can be seen in Weng’s bank account. The skier has collected nearly 96,000 euros in prize money in the World Cup. He leads the overall World Cup.
In December, Weng estimated for VG that he had additionally received approximately 9,500 euros in success bonuses from his equipment sponsors.
The skier has already earned more than last year in total, even if the prize money, bonuses and support money from the Norwegian Federation are added together. The skier’s taxable income was 32,700 euros last year.
– The money will definitely be used. That is a big amount for me, Weng commented in December.
In the past, crowns have not been left in the sock. All the money has gone to buy electricity, fuel and food.
In December, Weng dreamed of a new topcoat.
– I also want to renovate my bathroom. It’s from 1994 and looks weird.
Additional opportunities for success and prize money can still come in Planica. For women, the relay and 30 kilometers are non-skiing.
– I hope I can ski in both. I would like to fight for relay gold.