– It is clear that you are taking a big risk by lying in the water crust here – there is a limit to how long you can do it before you have to find something else to do, says Endre Strømsheim. He is one of the athletes on the recruit team who this season has shown that Norway’s second best biathletes are also at the very top of the world. He himself has a fourth place in the world cup this season as his best record. In addition to Strømsheim, Vebjørn Sørum, Aleksander Fjeld Andersen and not least Johannes Dale have delivered strong results. ONE OF THE FEW: Johannes Dale is one of only three who have beaten Johannes Thingnes Bø this season. Photo: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP The latter has one World Cup victory, one podium and a fourth place from the WC sprint in his luggage after the season. – It has been a very good year. It is obviously possible to do well on that team as well. But I make no secret of the fact that I want to get back up to the elite team. That is the goal, says Dale. But there are only six places on the Norwegian elite team, and according to sports director Per Arne Botnan, it is not relevant to expand the team in the near future. – The fact that something can be done with structure is of course something we, right behind the elite team, want. There is no doubt that there are more than six good (male) biathletes in Norway, and that one should put a partition there, because we think right behind that partition is a bit sour, says Strømsheim. – We miss that But for now, the next generation of promising biathletes will most likely have to stay on the recruiting team for the next few years. Now they want a more even distribution and more funds to bet on the Olympics in 2026. ISSUE: Strømsheim lacks more funds for the second best biathletes. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB – We would like to generally have more funds and security around finances and investments. We miss that, says Strømsheim and receives support from Aleksander Fjeld Andersen: – We don’t have an awful lot to complain about, but our level may require that we should get a little more funds. That’s where the skewed distribution is. There are almost ten runners in Norway who could have gone to the World Cup, and behind them there are a bunch of others who could have gone to the IBU Cup. The recruit boys believe that there is so little difference in achievements now and that one must therefore invest more in the younger up-and-coming biathletes. – We are at such a high level that if we had gone for another national team, we would have gone straight into an elite team. I hope the association looks ahead and realizes that we are the next generation that will fight for World Cup victories and World Cup gold and Olympic gold. I think we deserve that, says Vebjørn Sørum. – Very big differences. Everyone points out that they feel good on the recruit national team and have a very good training day with coach Anders Øverby. At the same time, they lack more funds, for example for altitude training in the run-up to the Olympics, which will take place at an altitude of 1,600 meters in Anterselva. PAID BY HIMSELF: Vebjørn Sørum paid himself for a stay at altitude this season. Photo: ANDERS WIKLUND / AFP – That doesn’t help the national team much for now. Now it’s the case that some can afford it, others can’t. There are very big differences. For the breadth of recruits and top level going forward, I think it is wise to use funds there, says Sørum. – For my part, I had to spend all my savings on a training camp in Lavazè and it was mostly with the Olympics in mind, he continues. But sports director in the biathlon association, Per Arne Botnan, will not promise any change. – I think the system we have is quite good. From what I see of the results, I think we will continue in the same trend, says Botnan. Confronted with the demand from the recruit boys, Botnan says that it is free to train in the field. – Training is mostly free. If you get a little more funds, I don’t think it makes a big difference. We have enough funds to be able to give both elite and recruit runners a good enough plan to get to the Olympics in Anterselva, answers the sports manager. FREE: Botnan says training is mostly free. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news The recruit runners suggest that a larger elite team be created to take care of the athletes who deliver at the top of the world, while at the same time there will be less difference between fresh and more experienced recruit runners. According to the sports director, it is out of the question. – Then we must have a team of 10-12 athletes. We cannot do that. That is partly why we are so good too, especially on the men’s side. That there is a battle for places, Botnan concludes.
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Biathletes against their own association – demand more funds – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
