The New York Times is looking for the Norwegians' recipe for success

At the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February, Norway was in first place in the medal table with a total of 39 medals (14 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze). The USA, with a population of over 300 million, took home 23 medals (9 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze), and Italy (population over 60 million) went home with 10 medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze). The “New York Times” recently highlighted the recipe for success of skiers from Norway in an article. Aksel Lund Svindal, Kjetil Jansrud, Henrik Kristoffersen and Ragnhild Mowinckel won a total of six medals, including gold in the men's downhill (Svindal), silver and bronze in the men's downhill and super-G (Jansrud), silver in the men's giant slalom ( Kristoffersen) and silver in women's downhill and giant slalom (Mowinckel).

Team above all

According to the NYT, the Norwegian ski team is taking a completely different approach: the individual sport of skiing is a team sport for the Norwegians. Svindal, Jansrud & Co. spend around 250 days a year together, so values such as humility, equality and mutual respect are much more important than “self-marketing” on social networks. “There is no sensible explanation or justification that only a fool can be a successful athlete,” says Kjetil Jansrud and “there are no secrets in the team when it comes to tactics or technique; We pass on everything we know.” There are also no hierarchies in the ski team, regardless of whether they are Olympic champions or newcomers. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who has already been on the podium twice in Val Gardena, remembers his first day with the World Cup team: “At dinner my place was at the head of the table, although at home I still had a poster of Aksel Lund Svindal hanging in the room.” .

Fun as a success factor

Food seems to be an important part of things for the Norwegians, because there is always taco on Friday evenings, and the wives and girlfriends of the team members are also invited. Aksel Lund Svindal: “A descent only takes two minutes, and if that's the only fun you have in the day, then you'll eventually hate your job.” “Winning in ski races should not become the basis of your joy, otherwise the joy of the sport will quickly disappear,” said the 35-time World Cup winner. The much-quoted team spirit is essential, and Lars Maeland, the Norwegians' fitness trainer, adds: “We talk to each other and not about each other.”

Pioneers Kjus and Aamodt

The fathers of this philosophy are two of the greats of skiing, Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus. “Shortly after I was brought into the national team, they said to me that this is not a football club that can sell you to another team. You will be part of the national team for life,” remembers Aksel Lund Svindal. 23-year-old Henrik Kristoffersen has now understood and accepted this after a dispute arose between the ski talent and the ski association in 2016 over a private sponsorship contract. In the end, according to the New York Times, Norwegians meet in the Oslo area every year from May to August to train together for the next winter.

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The New York Times is looking for the Norwegians' recipe for success

The Kingdom of Norway only has around five million inhabitants - but is one of the most successful winter sports nations in the world.

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