The Gjøvik runner has only participated in three World Cup races in the last two seasons. She had to sit out both the World Ski Championships last year and the Olympics earlier this year due to her health situation. The Norwegian cross-country skiing season starts at Beitostølen on 18 November, with the World Cup starting in Finnish Ruka on 25 November. All runners who will represent Norway internationally, such as the World Cup and Scandinavian Cup, must have an approved health certificate. This means that runners without an approved health certificate can participate in national races, such as the opening weekend at Beitostølen. On Monday, Flugstad Østberg has invited the press to the Olympiatoppen, where she will talk about the future. Last week, coach Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass told Oppland Arbeiderblad that he was optimistic about the health certificate. He also believed that Flugstad Østberg was fit to ski very fast. Was denied a start in 2019 Flugstad Østberg won both the Tour de Ski and the World Cup in the 2018/19 season, and also won medals in all five exercises she did during the WC in Seefeld in the same season. Before the national opening race at Beitostølen in the 2019/20 season, the message came that she had not received an approved health certificate. As a result, Flugstad Østberg was denied a start at the start of the season. A few weeks later, she got the go-ahead to go on the Tour de Ski, which started in Space Christmas. Flugstad Østberg won one stage and came third overall behind Therese Johaug and Natalja Neprjajeva. STAGE WIN: Flugstad Østberg sprinted past Therese Johaug in the battle for the stage win at the start of the hunt in Toblach in the Tour de Ski 2019/20. It is also the last individual victory she has internationally. In total, she has 17 World Cup victories. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The season came to a somewhat abrupt end. Both because of the outbreak of the coronavirus in the world, but Flugstad Østberg was also unable to run what turned out to be the last race of the season in Holmenkollen due to a fatigue fracture in the heel. In the summer of 2020, she suffered another fatigue fracture in her heel. Just before the start of the 20/21 season, it became known that she had not received an approved health certificate and had to sit out the entire ski season. Had to sit through the Olympics In the Olympic season last winter, she got an approved health certificate before the season. For the first time in over a year and a half, she competed in the World Cup when she went 10 kilometers classic on the opening weekend in Ruka, where she finished 33rd. WAS BACK LAST YEAR: Ingvild Flugstad Østberg took part in three races last season. Here from 10 kilometers classic in Ruka. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB Flugstad Østberg also walked 10 kilometers on the next two World Cup weekends and was number 14 in Lillehammer and eighth in Davos. Furthermore, according to the plan, she was going to do the Tour de Ski, but in Christmas Eve the message came that she had to sit out both the Tour de Ski and the Olympics. Since then, she hasn’t gone to any ski races either. Before the 2022/23 season, she lost her place on the national team. Until this winter, she has invested outside the national team, with Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass as coach.
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