– I think this withdrawal is one of the most shocking I have been in, says Vebjørn Sørum to news. The biathlon is first and foremost that he was not allowed to go Thursday’s short normal distance in Pokljuka. Then he lost the opportunity to fight for cool and victory in the normal cup. – It is a withdrawal I do not understand when I am in second place in the normal cup, was the third best Norwegian on sprint and hunting start in Nove Mesto and in addition has a fourth place from the World Cup, Sørum argues. SHOWN: Vebjørn Sørum has one win this season, and is number nine in the World Cup overall. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad / news One of the things he pulled out was a lack of communication. So does Sørum. -I have tried to forget other withdrawals that have been a little frustrating before, with poor arguments and communication, which I have said about it too, and then I come once again in that situation, says the 26-year-old, who is part of the national team. – It is difficult for us athletes to know when there are no withdrawal criteria outside of “international results”. I would say that I have, he adds. – Extremely disagree someone who has not been directly involved in the withdrawal noise this season, is Endre Strømsheim. He is still clear. – I think it will be a tough evaluation of this outlet after the season. I think there are runners who are extremely disagree, so we have to make a summary and hear what the athletes as a group think about this, and talk to the management about it, says Strømsheim. Brands disagreement: National team runner Endre Strømsheim. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad / news Sørum says that he has talked to the coaches and the management about the withdrawal, but still feels the athletes themselves must take responsibility. – We have to stand up for ourselves, no one else speaks our case when it comes to withdrawals. We must say in a good way and discuss it well if there are to make changes to withdrawal and communication, and it must do so, he states. National team manager Per Arne Botnan has been presented to the criticism. – We want to have good communication with all runners, no matter what team they are on. So any kind of desire for more feedback, we must listen to. But I don’t quite understand what this case is, says the national team manager. Defends the choices he understands that athletes are disappointed when they are not taken out, but defend the choice that was made now. Sørum’s two 12th places from Nove Mesto did not hold this time, Botnan believes. – It is not always the case that you get in detail all the assessments on how a withdrawal should be. In most cases, it is the way it is now that you are told that we expect certain performance to join. If you do not, you must expect you to be assessed against others who perform. I think the communication has been good enough in this case, and that the withdrawal made is correct. I think most others think it is, too, he explains. Responses: National team manager Per Arne Botnan. Photo: Christian Grotnes / news Sørum confirms that he was told that the national team management wanted results, but claims it was not communicated that practitioners should be brought in from the level during the World Cup, the IBU Cup. He was therefore surprised that Johannes Dale-Skjevdal and Isak Frey were taken out. He also thinks it is a bit strange that he was also ranked behind Tarjei Bø at the normal distance. – I think I deserved a place. It would have been easy to defend, so we have to discuss this after the season, Sørum states. – Gets support news’s experts also stuttered that Sørum did not go on Friday’s race. – It’s strange when you’re in battle for that bullet and can’t go. I wonder about that. Based on the normal program results, Tarjei Bø should have been over, because he has not shown super form either, says Ola Lunde. – I think he should have to go, because he had something to go for, so I understand the frustration of Sørum here, says Emil Hegle Svendsen. Botnan stands by the fact that the outlet was correct. Sørum emphasizes that withdrawals are not personal, that the athletes have a good relationship and that they talk well together. – We could have been pissed on each other as well, but fortunately we have such a good environment and culture. We realize that all fighters for their place, and you have to do that as a performer. Saturday is a joint start in Pokljuka. There, Sørum gets to go, since he is within the top 25 of the World Cup. Norway has seven men at the start. The races will be shown on NRK1 on Saturday at. 13.35 and at. 15.45. Published 14.03.2025, at. 18.24 Updated 14.03.2025, at. 18.36
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