The booting from Karoline Offigstad Knotten in the Norwegian association ensures outrage for a biathlon legend.
The booting from Karoline Offigstad Knotten from the Norwegian biathlon team causes a lot of trouble. Now the Olympic champion Marte Olsbu Roiseland cleared her anger.
The background: In the past biathlon season, Knotten with 14th place in the overall World Cup delivered the second best performance in the Norwegian team, only Maren Kirkeeide was even better. Nevertheless, knotting will not be part of the national team in the coming winter, the Norwegian association announced last Thursday.
“We need athletes who support the program 100 percent and trust that it is the plan that offers everyone the best possible chances of success,” team leader via Arne Botnan justified the decision.
In a conversation, Knotten is said to have suggested improvement for training in the upcoming Olympic season and have not harmonized in all sub -items with the coaching team.
Roiseland from Norwegian association horrified
At Roiseland, the fact that the disagreement now led to the athlete’s discharge causes horror. The three -time Olympic champion and thirty world champion ended her career in 2023, but is still close to the action as an expert.
Roiseland hit hard that there was no more space in the squad for knotters. In her column for the Norwegian public service broadcasting NRK, she wrote: “If an athlete like Karoline Knotten does exactly-asking questions, showing responsibility and looking for technical discussion-she should be met with respect,” said the former biathlete.
“This type of attitude seems to be a break with the Norwegian biathlon tradition. If we really reach a point where we are no longer allowed to think about it? Should everyone be forced into a model-without space for professional differences of opinion?
Decision made knottes like a “shock”
But that’s not all: “This is not only a brutal break – it is also in a blatant contrast to the settings on which the association himself claims to start its work.”
The ex-athlete also wrote that she also adapted her training to her needs at her active time and was only able to get Olympic gold medals.
By the way: Knotten who is in a relationship with the German biathlete Philipp Nawrath met her like a “shock”. In the NRK interview, she explained that the decision was “incredibly sad” – she was “disappointed”.
The team-out has not changed anything on her fighting spirit. “I got a slap in the face, but I’m happy. I’ll enjoy my vacation and next week I start working on a good plan for the Olympic season.”