– Once I am allowed to go hard by Sjur Ole Svarstad, then I will go hard too, says Helene Marie Fossesholm and claps her fist on her thigh. She sits on a chair in the sun terrace in Holmenkollen next to the national team coach and still has her roller ski helmet on. Both are smiling from ear to ear at what Fossesholm has just achieved. She had to see herself beaten by Lotta Udnes Weng in the sprint at the Oslo Ski Show, but kept World Cup winner Tiril Udnes Weng behind her. Along the way, Fossesholm did the whole pulling job for all nine kilometres. NEGOTIATION: If Helene Marie Fossesholm is going to train hard, she must first convince trainer Sjur Ole Svarstad that it makes sense. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news – You were allowed today. It will be a long time until next time, Svarstad answers teasingly. At first he gets a grimace in response, then Fossesholm says: – We can discuss it. Warn disaster The tone is playful, but underneath lies the seriousness. Helene Marie Fossesholm was seen as the next big thing in international cross-country skiing. On 23 January 2021, she took her first podium in the World Cup. A month and a half later, she was anchorwoman on the Norwegian team that won WC gold in the relay in Oberstdorf. She was still 19 years old and a junior, and her future prospects were limitless. WORLD CHAMPION: Helene Marie Fossesholm crossed the finish line first and secured gold for the Norwegian relay gold in Oberstdorf. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB In the two following seasons she has only two top 10 placings in the World Cup, and this winter Fossesholm was nowhere near a place in the Norwegian World Cup squad for Planica. She was overzealous and trained herself completely. In a way, one foreshadowed disaster. Former national team coach, Ole Morten Iversen, tried to keep her. Krabbetempo – I was completely hopeless, she says to news about the state she was in a year ago, when Iversen quit his job. Fossesholm was not able to follow the national team friends in a single session. At a meeting in Bø in June last year, coach Svarstad was supposed to form a rearguard with the team’s youngest. – Then he was with me at my crawling pace. One could walk by the side, she says. It went so slowly that the trainer could not run so slowly: – He had to turn around after two minutes. I wasn’t there then. – Absolutely incredible, says Svarstad now. SMILE BACK: Helene Marie Fossesholm shared the podium with the Udnes Weng twins in Holmenkollen. Photo: NTB Berre Marie Helene Marie Fossesholm was simply unrecognizable, neither to herself nor to her teammates. The Udnes Weng twins started calling her Marie. – When I’m doing badly, I’m Marie. And when I’m good, I’m Helene. So I kind of have two names. I’ve probably only been Marie for two years now. So when they start calling me Helene again, it’s a good sign, says Fossesholm. Because now things are going better again. Much better, thanks to your patience and discipline in the training work. – Helene is at it again, so to speak. It’s a pretty big advantage to hang back, and I had more than enough hanging back, so it’s good to see that she’s back, says Tiril Udnes Weng after beating Holmenkollen. – Now we have her back, and we just have to make sure she doesn’t push too hard now, because it’s a long time until the start of the season, she says. LOCOMOTIVE: Helene Marie Fossesholm has gained momentum on roller skis, and is starting the run-up to the new season on a completely different level than a year ago. Photo: NTB Grimace in the mouth The World Cup winner promises to speak up if she feels that Fossesholm is stretching the rope too far. It’s a job Svarstad also takes seriously. – For someone who wants as much as Helene, I think it is very important to exercise control. We have to find the right balance, then it will be fine, he says. The main character claims it shouldn’t be a problem. – It’s actually very easy, because I have two pieces – one called Sjur Ole and one called Stig Rune (Kveen). I have a halter in my mouth, and then they each hold their harness and hold me back, she says of the national team coaches. When Svarstad says it will be a long time until the next time Fossesholm gets to go all she can, it is not a joke. – It’s just nice that they can speak up if they feel that I’m getting a little hot on the porridge. But the day I stop being angry at the porridge, I’m not myself. I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing that, because it’s not in my nature, notes Helene Marie Fossesholm.
ttn-69
Fossesholm was completely in the basement – was parked by the trainer at “crab pace” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
