– I can never watch an interview with myself! Nordås describes himself as introverted and reflective, but even a sane fellow from Jæren can lose his head when things are going well on the running track. He notices this himself when someone picks up the repeats from news: – That’s not me. He’s an extrovert. He is almost euphoric. You get an adrenaline rush, explains Nordås, who hardly recognizes himself when he serves one joke after another. He is speaking to news on the phone from Spain, where he has done the last World Cup warm-ups with coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen. On Thursday he comes to Glasgow. On Friday, it’s serious with attempts at 1,500 meters – and opportunities for more euphoria. “Shit, now I regret it” The previous season offered a number of those winks. Nordås broke the dream barrier of 3.30 minutes in 1500 meters during the Bislett Games, came second in the Diamond League in London and crowned the season with WC bronze. It’s no wonder then that self-confidence becomes: “sky high”: And in step with success on the running track, the chances of an exciting interview with the 25-year-old increase. – You are talking beyond yourself. You speak in euphoria, there is no way to express how wonderful everything is… but then a few hours pass. Then I think: “Shit, now I regret what I said”. One is to a certain extent unpredictable. And those around him know to play on. Because he didn’t escape. Although he hates to see himself being interviewed, those closest to him are no strangers to watching the replays. – I try to avoid it, but occasionally someone tries to make me lose weight. If they want to bother me. But then I run into another room, says Nordås – and explains why he flees from the situation: – If you had interviewed me here and now (not after a race), it wouldn’t have worked. You get a slightly different personality, you are not so reflected. Then one says something very stupid. The friend: – It’s so good. He gets support from his training mate Per Svela. When Nordås coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen did not receive accreditation in Budapest, it was Svela who took over the role of closest support player during the WC. – He’s a fairly reflective guy in the first place, so things don’t always work out, says training mate Per Svela to news. HUMOR-FILLED: Narve Gilje Nordås and Per Svela were close to each other during the WC in Budapest. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB While the WC bronze winner talked about “the high highs and the low lows” and put on a show, his partner tried to keep him down to earth. Sometimes it wasn’t that simple. – It doesn’t just apply to him, it can happen again to many runners. As you reach the finish line, you are not to be reckoned with. There is so much adrenaline and there is so much fun – and then you play something, says Svela. PS! Narve Gilje Nordås ushers in the WC with the 1500 meters on news 1, Friday at 21.10. A short time later, there are semi-finals in the 400 meters with the possibility of Norwegian participation if Henriette Jæger and Karsten Warholm progress from the attempt.
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