Ingvild Östberg is not allowed to compete again. The skiing star returned to the top last season after years of pain.
Ingvild Östberg did not pass the medical examination. Jussi Saarinen
Olympic champion in cross-country skiing Ingvild Östberg33, gets sidelined again.
Östberg did not pass the Norwegian national team’s health check on Monday. The Olympic champion is therefore not allowed to compete in the opening event of the Norwegian ski season in Beitostölen this coming weekend.
– Unfortunately, Ingvild does not meet the criteria for an approved health inspection. That’s why he can’t start the competition, national team doctor Ove Feragen commented in the announcement.
It is not the first time that Östberg is in the same situation.
– The balance between exercise and nutrition is not good enough, Östberg opens up about the causes of his problems.
– I have tough demands on myself. I am constantly trying to improve so that I can fight for the best positions and medals. At the same time, I want to take care of my own health.
From the top to the side
Ingvild Östberg returned to the top last season. PASI LEISMA
Östberg’s difficulties began in the fall of 2019, when he first failed the national team’s health check.
The Norwegian star returned to the Games in the same season, but in March 2020 he broke his heel in Lahti. In the summer of 2020, the Norwegian star suffered another stress fracture.
The 2020–2021 season was completely missed.
The star returned to the track in November 2021 after a two-year battle. He said that he worked with doctors, psychiatrists, nutritionists and trainers.
– It’s about how much training load there is, and how much nutrition you get. For me, finding a balance has taken too long. I should have been able to handle the situation earlier. Good and bad habits have formed, he has described to NRK.
The comeback season was three races long. Dropped from the national team. However, Östberg returned to the top last season.
The Norwegian was on the podium in four World Cup individual races, finished fifth in the World Cup and celebrated the relay world championship. Östberg was assisted by a Finnish swimming EC medalist Anu Koivisto-Mörkwho currently works as a nutritionist.
In 2018, Östberg won the Olympic gold in the 4×5 kilometer relay, and the following season he won three silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships in Seefeld. The Norwegian is a two-time Olympic champion and world champion.