Ferred moment for the Norwegian cross-country skier Emil Iversen: The four-time world champion and second of Beijing 2022 was bitten by a shepherd during training in France. This was reported by the 33-year-old in the newspapers of Addressavisen and Verdens Gang.
A private photo published by the leaves shows Iversen before the entrance to the emergency room of a hospital with a bite wound on the rear left thigh. At the time of the incident, he was traveling with his teammates Johannes Hösflot Klaebo and Niklas Dyrhaug and the footballer Alexander Sörloth.
“We ran intervals on a gravel path, and because I was in shape, I was really fast, so the dog was just afraid. He was just afraid, but the owner unfortunately did not pay attention, and so the dog snapped,” said Iversen and added: “Fortunately, the wound was not so deep and did not have to be sewn, but I started taking medication.”
The wound was cared for in the hospital. Iversen found “a bit of a shame” that he was on the way to a “personal record” when he was bitten. “The shape was very good until the bite, so I hope that it heals well and the shape is just as good afterwards.”
Iversen is prepared for the Olympic season. After the winter games of Milan 2026, he will probably end his career.