Cross-country skiing Olympic champion Einar Hedegart is flirting with a switch to biathlon. The Norwegian has now had an important conversation regarding his future, but for the time being he must continue to be patient.
Hedegart spent the past season cross-country skiing. The 24-year-old won three medals at the Winter Olympics in Italy, two of which were gold (in the 4 × 7.5 km and in the team sprint freestyle). From April 9th to 12th, Hedegart will take part in the Norwegian Biathlon Championships.
“Now I have to get the gun out of the cupboard and learn to shoot. The last time I shot was in November,” joked the Scandinavian in an interview with “NRK”. Hedegart is toying with switching to biathlon permanently. A conversation recently took place with Norway’s Secretary General Emilie Nordskar.
“We talked about many different things. It was a pleasant conversation and she is a very nice woman. I can’t say anything more about it,” Hedegart kept a low profile. The cross-country skier revealed that there were “no promises” about a possible place in the Norwegian national biathlon team.
Biathlon official asks for patience
“First and foremost, the conversation was about gaining clarity about what he imagines, what he dreams about, what his ambition is and how he imagines the implementation of this project so that we understand his expectations,” the biathlon official at “NRK” gave details of the exchange.
“Our feedback to Einar was simply that he needed to be patient before we could give him a clear answer,” explained Nordskar.
Norway’s biathlon association recently lost two important people: shooting coach Siegfried Mazet and national team manager Per Arne Botnan. A new manager has now been appointed.
“You should also have an opinion on whether we should have a seventh man in the elite national team or whether we should find another solution,” said Nordskar, referring to Hedegart.
