– I will take that with me, beams Lotte Lie after being told by news that she is returning home from the World Championships in biathlon as the best Norwegian female athlete. For Norway, there is only one problem: Lie represents Belgium. If you calculate the average positions from the individual races in Nove Mesto, she comes out best of the athletes with a Norwegian passport. Four or five years ago, she made the choice to go for her mother’s country of birth. – I wanted to go for Belgium and promote biathlon there, she explains. Average placing in the WC Average placing for female athletes with a Norwegian passport in individual races in the WC: Over four races: Lotte Lie: 19.75. place. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold: 24th place. June Arnekleiv: 21.75. place. Two races: Karoline Knotten: 26th place. One race: Marit Ishol Skogan: 68, place. – Very tough The Norwegian women’s national team has had a few bad days in Nove Mesto. The championship’s best individual result came on the final day with Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold’s 10th place in the joint start. – It is very surprising, says news’s biathlon expert Ola Lunde about Lie topping the statistics. EXPERT: Ola Lunde follows biathlon for news. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad He notes that Tandrevold arrived at the World Cup in a yellow jersey as leader of the World Cup. In addition, several of the Norwegians have been on the podium in the World Cup throughout the season. – I think it says the most about the Norwegian national team runners, who are severely underperforming here in the WC. Lotte Lie performed consistently well, perhaps the best she has done. While the Norwegians have not performed anywhere near what they have done earlier in the season, says Lunde. Lie is by no means towering. The 28-year-old is delighted with his own efforts, but has a good relationship with the Norwegian athletes. She has known several of them for a long time. That’s why she feels for them after an uphill championship. – I think it’s very cool, she says of the Norwegian team effort. RECOVERY: Lotte Lie notices growing interest in Belgium. Photo: AFP Belgian upswing She trains a lot in Lillehammer and hits hard and constantly on the Norwegian hopes. There she sees the enormous effort they put in with the goal of becoming the best in the world. – I always wish them to get out what they are good at, so now I feel a lot for them. At the same time, this is part of top sport. It goes up and down. They will outgrow this in the longer term, Lie believes. – It’s a shame, but they will come back strong. Then I will accept that I have been so good in this championship, she adds. Lie has to disappoint Norwegian fans who hope she turns around and starts going for Norway again. She remains in red, black and yellow. Belgium is not traditionally a big biathlon country, but Lie seems to notice a change. – Interest is increasing. I have seen the Belgian flag in the stands and heard my name. So I think we’re on the way, then, she smiles. This is also the first year that Belgium has had “a proper system” in the national team, according to Lie. At Lillehammer, she is trained by Margit Sørensen, who has now also joined the Belgian support system. – I have it very well organised, she says of the arrangement. Lunde praises Lie’s efforts in the Czech forests, but has faith that Norway’s national team runners will soon show themselves from a better side again. – We had a good team earlier this year, which delivered more than what can be expected before the start of the season. It is possible that they were in shape too early and have been hit here in the World Cup, says news’s expert.
ttn-69
Unknown Lotte (28) surprised news’s expert – best “Norwegian” in the WC – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
