– You can’t blame either bad luck or bad luck when you consistently fail in the decisive situations. That’s what news sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt says on the ninth day of the Olympics. So far, over 50 nations have won medals in the Olympics, but Norway is not among them. The best Norwegian achievements are two fourth places and three fifth places. news COMMENTATOR: Jan Petter Saltvedt. Photo: Henrik Myhr Nielsen / news In comparison, the Swedes have already won one gold and have five medals in total during the Olympics in Paris. In advance, the Olympiatoppen had set the goal that Norway would win eight medals in the Olympics. – Tore Øvrebø and those close to him are probably more stressed than they are willing to admit, says Saltvedt. CHEERING: There are many who have had a lot to cheer for, here are the American gymnasts Suni Lee and Simone Biles. In Norway, the first Olympic medal is still awaited. Photo: Morry Gash / AP – The question is whether they have enough close contact with the biggest Olympic hopefuls in the various sports to have an overview of and control over the preparations, says Saltvedt. Top sports manager in the Olympic top, Tore Øvrebø does not completely agree with Saltvedt, and believes that Norway can still take eight medals. At the same time, he points out that the Norwegian athletes have so far had quite a few outs. – Yes, it is realistic to still reach, so we are standing by. And we prepare the athletes as best we can to be ready to stand in these matches that they have to stand in to be able to take these medals, he says. CHIEF: Tore Øvrebø is top sports manager and has not had a single medal to celebrate so far in the Olympics. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Failed Several traditionally strong Norwegian disciplines such as rowing and shooting have already been completed and finished in Paris without Norwegian medals, in addition to sailing being well underway. – We may have inflated it too much, but it is clear that it has been a disappointing Olympics for Norway. That’s what news’s shooting commentator Ola Lunde says about the Norwegian shooting performances. In triathlon, there were great expectations that reigning Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt would win another medal, but he was the best Norwegian in 12th place. HEAVY: There was no repeat of the Olympic gold from Tokyo for Kristian Blummenfelt. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB The Olympics were also a disappointing championship for rowing after several medals in the EC earlier this year. – The only thing you can do is to prepare even better for next time. That is the boring answer, but that is the fact, says Olaf Tufte. He himself has two Olympic gold medals and thinks it is boring that it has been a failure for many of the Norwegian athletes so far. The rowers have liked to claim that they always deliver an Olympic medal. Since 1972, they have won medals in all the Olympics, except for 2012 and the Olympic boycott in 1980. In Paris, there were no rowing medals. ALMOST: The Norwegian women’s double sculler with Thea Helseth and Inger Kavlie took EC gold in April, but came last of the six in the A final at the Olympics. Here Helseth looks over at the medal boat. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Unaccustomed to pressure news’s expert commentator on shooting, Katrine Aannestad Lund believes that the Olympic pressure has taken its toll on the Norwegian shooters. – They are not used to attention. When it happens every four years, it becomes extra hard. They try to work on it mentally, but working on it is different than actually experiencing it. When you get a camera that follows you often, you get used to it, but a shooter doesn’t get used to a camera, she says. Øvrebø himself believes that the Norwegian athletes are well enough prepared for the championship, even if it has ended, as he himself acknowledges, but quite a bit. The Norwegian stars have also disappointed in tennis and golf. Casper Ruud went out in the quarter-finals, while Viktor Hovland is among the bottom of the results list after two out of four rounds on the golf course. Despite many disappointing experiences, Øvrebø describes the atmosphere in the Norwegian squad as good. – I don’t think the athletes are thinking about the medal target that we have communicated. They are busy being as prepared as possible for the matches, duels and exercises they will be participating in. HOLIDAY: Casper Ruud was eliminated from the Olympics in the quarter-finals of the tennis competition on Thursday. On Friday, he was there to accompany his roommate Viktor Hovland on the golf course. Photo: Matt York / AP Predicted 21 medals When license holder Max predicted how the Norwegian Olympic effort would turn out, the result was 21 Norwegian medals. Seven of them in gold. The prediction was undoubtedly of the optimistic kind. Among other things, the experts believed in silver for Jeanette Hegg Duestad and bronze for Jon Hermann Hegg in shooting. While the tennis experts believed in bronze for Casper Ruud. He had reached the semi-finals three times in a row at Roland Garros, the same court where the Olympics were played. None of these athletes were successful in Paris. Despite the fact that there has not been a medal so far, Norway fortunately has several medal hopes left. On Friday, athletics started in France, where Norway has several medal candidates. In addition, the Norwegian national handball teams and the beach volleyball duo Mol and Sørum have got off to a good start. Published 03.08.2024, at 11.31
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Norway is without medals after nine days of the Olympics – Olympics Paris 2024
