“Like after a breakup”: Biathlon star on the ground

In the 2020/21 season, Johannes Dale was one of the big risers in the Norwegian biathlon team alongside Sturla Holm Lægreid. Dale, now 24 years old, won his first World Cup race at the Hochfilzen Sprint. The man from Lørenskog also won two medals at the World Championships on Pokljuka a few months later. And he finished the season in fifth place in the overall World Cup. The past winter didn't go as planned for Dale. That's why he's no longer part of the Norwegian senior squad. As the association announced on Thursday, in addition to the two Bø brothers, Sturla Holm Lægreid and Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, the two up-and-coming youngsters Sivert Bakken and Filip Andersen now also belong to it. A big disappointment for Dale, who is now part of the B squad: “I can’t deny that I suspected it. But receiving such news is terrible. I feel like I'm after a breakup. As if I had been abandoned. After all, it was just a year ago when I won two medals at the World Championships,” Dale explained to the Norwegian medium NRK . “Receiving news like this is terrible.” Johannes Dale after being demoted to the B squad Dale, who mainly competed in the IBU Cup in the previous season due to his lack of form, qualified his statements afterwards: “My words are not meant against Sivert (Bakken; Note d. Red. ) and Filip (Andersen; Note d. Red. ) be directed. On the contrary, I’m happy for them because they deserve it.” The coach encourages you However, Per Arne Botnan, a Norwegian coach, also encouraged Dale: “We had to make this decision to ensure the best working conditions for the elite team. In our experience, a number of 6 athletes is simply ideal to provide the best possible support for this group. But Johannes (Dale; Note d. Red. ) has a good chance of returning to the World Cup next season before Christmas. He can draw attention to himself with good performances – even if he is now in the B group.” From this story you can see that a biathlete in Norway can not only enjoy the advantages. In addition to perfect training, the “elks” are certainly also provided with the best material. But the internal competition and the pressure to perform are also stronger than in other nations. Erlend Bjøntegaard also felt this. The 32-year-old, who celebrated 7 relay victories in the World Cup with Norway, has now been completely excluded from the national team.

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“Like after a breakup”: Biathlon star on the ground

Being a biathlete in Norway doesn't always have its advantages. A prominent World Cup medalist has now fallen victim to competition. He reacts with great disappointment.

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