The Norwegian has an unpleasant encounter with a German Shepherd during training.
A moment of shock for Norwegian cross-country skier Emil Iversen: The four-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist from Beijing 2022 was bitten by a German Shepherd while training in France.
The 33-year-old reported this in the newspapers Addresseavisen and Verdens Gang.
A private photo published by the papers shows Iversen in front of the entrance to a hospital emergency room with a bite wound on his rear left thigh.
Iversen was out with Alexander Sörloth
He was with his teammates Johannes Hösflot Klaebo and Niklas Dyrhaug, as well as footballer Alexander Sörloth, at the time of the incident.
“We were running intervals on a gravel road, and because I’m in good shape, I was really fast, so the dog was probably just scared. He was on a leash, but the owner unfortunately wasn’t paying attention, and that’s how the dog snapped,” Iversen reported, adding: “Luckily, the wound wasn’t that deep and didn’t need to be stitched, but I’ve started taking medication.”
Wound treated in hospital
The wound was treated in the hospital. Iversen found it “a bit of a shame” that he was on his way to a “personal record” when he was bitten. “The form was very good until the bite, so I hope it heals well and the form is just as good afterwards.”
Iversen is preparing for the Olympic season. He is expected to end his career after the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.