Norway's problem child in altitude training on the Alpe di Siusi

Ingvild Flugstad Østberg has long been considered one of the absolute best cross-country skiers in the world. The now 31-year-old Norwegian has already shown her potential by winning four gold medals at the 2009 Junior World Championships. Together with her good friend Therese Johaug, she was seen as the legitimate successor to the most successful cross-country skier of all time, Marit Bjørgen. Her first World Cup victory in 2013 was followed by two Olympic victories, six World Cup medals, a Tour de Ski success and finally the overall World Cup victory in 2019. After that, her career took a turn for the worse. Eating disorders and mental health problems After Østberg had lost a lot of body weight again, the Norwegian association banned her from seven World Cup races because she could not meet the medical requirements for a start. In March of the same year she suffered a stress fracture in her heel and missed further World Cup events. During the preseason, she developed an eating disorder, suffered from overtraining and was unable to maintain her body weight.

Anorexia in endurance sports is a well-known problem. © APA/afp / JOE KLAMAR

Her permission to compete for the entire 2020-21 World Cup season was again revoked for health reasons. She only made her comeback in the World Cup in November 2021. After mixed performances and still unstable health, Østberg was again stopped by the association doctor. Shortly afterwards, she canceled her season completely, participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing fell through and there was also talk of withdrawing from professional sport. The former soccer player also admitted that she was mentally at the end of her strength. Restart on your own After 13 years in the national team, Østberg was finally kicked out of the squad after last winter and has been trying to get her career back on her own ever since. Her goal is to return to the World Cup and take part in the World Championships in Planica 2023. In her last appearance at a major event to date, the World Championships in Seefeld 2019, she won a medal in every competition.

In order to hone her form, the 31-year-old spent 16 days at altitude with her new private team, first on the Alpe di Siusi and later in the training stronghold of Livigno. Where long mountain tours and skirolling sessions were on the program. She wants to qualify for the upcoming World Cup start at the end of November through the national races in order to return to the international ski stage after three years of suffering.

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Norway's problem child in altitude training on the Alpe di Siusi

The 2019 overall World Cup winner Ingvild Flugstad Østberg is going through by far the worst time of her successful career and has had three terrible years. After losing her place in the Norwegian national squad, she is preparing for the upcoming season on her own in South Tyrol.

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