The World Cup season hasn’t even started properly, and there are already the first conflicts in the Norwegian cross-country skiing team. The reason is the non-nomination of veteran Emil Iversen.
Already immediately before the start of the 2025/26 World Cup season, there are initial points of contention in the strong Norwegian cross-country skiing team. The reason: Emil Iversen, who won a total of four gold medals at the World Championships in 2019 and 2022, was not nominated for the races in Ruka, Finland – which the 34-year-old himself cannot understand at all.
“You might think this is hidden camera. I was pretty shocked, didn’t understand anything and suspected it was a joke,” Iversen complained in an interview with the newspaper Verdens Gang directly. Instead of the veteran, the ten-year-younger Edvard Sandvik will be at the start on Friday.
Emil Iversen has been part of the Norwegian cross-country skiing team for years
“I understand the frustration”
Iversen said he was told his old age and a disappointing test race in Beitostolen, Norway, were decisive. Iversen was ahead of Sandvik in that race last weekend. He received support from Didrik Tönseth and superstar Johannes Hösflot Klaebo. Both believe that Iversen should have traveled to Finland.
“I think the arguments for that are pretty thin. We should take someone who is good enough. It’s as simple as that. That’s my opinion. I find it strange, but that’s the way it is,” said Klaebo and stressed that he could understand Iversen’s great frustration: “I understand the frustration. It’s a bit like: if you’re good enough, you should be there. Regardless of whether you are old or young.”
Tönseth expressed a similar opinion. In particular, the reasoning regarding age was also unacceptable from his point of view. Iversen, in turn, was pleased with the support of his colleagues. “I’ve had many selection interviews, but the support I’m getting from all sides now – old, young, good, bad – I’ve never experienced before. That really means everything to me,” he revealed.
“That’s why we took Edvard with us”
Why does Iversen still have to watch? Cross-country skiing boss Per Elias Kalfoss has now given an answer. “In Beitostolen, both landed close to each other. Emil beat Edvard, and we came to the conclusion that it was very balanced,” he described. “But Edvard is a runner who, in our opinion, is developing well and has a career ahead of him. We would like him to have the opportunity to try himself in the World Cup. That’s why we took Edvard to Ruka.”
Kalfoss also revealed that Klaebo had even sought direct contact because of Iversen’s situation. “I think it’s very good that he does that. That he tells me that he has a different opinion and has different views on it. That’s how it should be. There should be room to say your opinion and have a different opinion,” he said and welcomed the exchange.
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