Norway star misses the medal-and screams competitor

At the Nordic Ski World Cup

Medal missed: Norway star screams competitor

Heidi Weng fought for a medal at the women’s skiathlon. But a serious fall threw her plans.

It was well on the way to win at least one medal. Even had a chance of gold. In the end, however, the Norwegian Heidi Weng went away empty-handed at the Nordic Ski World Cup in her home country-in a dramatic way.

During the skiathlon over 20 kilometers, the 33-year-old was a fellow candidate for victory until the final phase. But shortly before the last round, Weng crashed over her competitor Jonna Sundling, who had slipped in a curve directly in front of her. For both of them, the dream of the gold medal was dreamed of.

Both stood up again unharmed – and in the end Sundling even ran in front of Weng as the third line over the finish line, and the bronze medal also snapped away. On television pictures you could see how Weng, who finished just behind Sundling, shouted out her anger towards her opponent.

After the run, Weng then talked about frustration from the soul on Norwegian television. Would you expect Sundling’s apology? “I think you can say ‘sorry’ or at least ask whether everything is okay. At least I would have done it that way.” Overall TV expert and ex-ski runner Torgir Bjørn, overall disagreement and saw his compatriot: In the fateful curve she was “too close to Sundling. I understand her frustration, but she also has to take it on her own cap.”

Also “culprit” Sundling commented on the run and said openly: “I was in Heidi, and that’s why we both lost (the gold medal, editor’s note). I am glad that I have become third.”

Curious: Later, there was still ambiguity as to whether Sundling actually apologized to Weng. “I was satisfied,” said the Norwegian, who reported that her competitor had visited her “with a translator” because she understood only a little Norwegian.

Sundling, on the other hand, did not want to confirm an apology: “We talked and both are sorry for what happened. But it was a competitive situation, and of course I didn’t want that to happen.”

With all the confusion, it was almost overshadowed who won the gold medal at all: Sundling’s Swedish compatriot Ebba Andersson prevailed in a gripping final sprint against Norway’s cross-country star, the four-time Olympic champion Therese Johaub. Both athletes were rated at the same time, a few centimeters decidedly about gold and silver.