Actually, Jarl Magnus Riiber has been dominating Nordic Combined for five years now. But because of a parasite infection, he will probably not win the World Cup this season – will he return to the World Cup?
Actually there is no getting past Jarl Magnus Riiber in Nordic Combined. The 25-year-old Norwegian has been dominating the World Cup and major events at will since 2018. It’s not for nothing that he’s nicknamed “The king of combiners“. And yet this winter the name Riiber will probably not be at the top of the rankings in the overall World Cup at the end of the season. For the first time in five years.
45 individual victories in the World Cup, four overall victories, four times gold at the World Championships, three times silver. Riiber’s strength: He actually has no weaknesses. He’s the best jumper in the field and on the cross-country ski run he’s really hard to catch. Actually. Because just before the Olympic Games in Beijing, which were supposed to be the first crowning glory for the “combi king”, Riiber became beatable.
Corona infection spoiled Riiber the Olympic Games
Not because of a sporting slump. The Norwegian fell ill with Corona, had to be quarantined in China and only competed on the large hill. He dominated the jumping as usual, but in the cross-country he struggled through the ice-cold Chinese landscape and finished eighth in the end, completely exhausted. For many, a top ten place at the Olympics would be an honor – for the Dominator it was a blatant drop down.
But the place at the top is no longer a matter of course since then. Because Riiber is fighting with his body again this season. The Norwegian started as usual in the World Cup – seven competitions, four wins, two more podium finishes – but then the news of his illness. A parasite has lodged itself in his body.
Riiber: “I haven’t eaten anything for two weeks”
“Due to the challenges of the last two weeks, I will be at the weekend [in Otepää] not be at the start”said Riiber in January to the broadcaster “NRK”.“I haven’t eaten anything in about two weeks”, the 25-year-old described at the time. He has lost a lot of weight and cannot train, he reported. So he skipped two World Cup stops and his chances of winning the fifth overall World Cup in a row, which he believed to be safe, melted away.
Riiber and the call for a break
Riiber made his comeback in Klingenthal at the end of January, but he seemed upset there and still managed to secure two podium finishes. Also in Seefeld – still dressed in the yellow jersey of the overall World Cup leader – he finished second on the first day. But one noticed that the actual dominator could not keep up with the top performers and especially with the Austrian Johannes Lamparter in this condition on the cross-country ski run.
Then, on the third day of the competition, an incident that seemed like a sign to Riiber: he squatted deeply on the hill and his suit tore. The otherwise dominant jumper ended up on rank 35 and was immediately disqualified because of the material defect. “Everything screams that I should take a break”said Riiber and explained on ZDF that he had felt very bad physically and had doubts about starting. “At least now I can personally hand over the yellow jersey to Lamparter”Riiber said in the ORF left.
First the break, then the World Cup comeback?
But the Norwegian drew his conclusions and gave up the competition the following day. And the 25-year-old will also sit out the World Cup dress rehearsal in Oberstdorf this weekend. “The first winter holiday I’ve managed so far in my career. I have to say it was quite pleasant”Riiber wrote on Instagram, adding: “It’s on to Oslo for a health check before the preparations for the World Cup begin!”
So it is not entirely clear whether Riiber can take part in the World Championships – and certainly not in what condition he will start in Planica. It would be the second major event within a year that the king of combined athletes can only compete in a weakened state. But this exceptional talent is capable of being at the top again in the end, even in this condition. In any case, he can’t be bothered.