Ole Einar Bjørndalen blasts Norwegian Biathlon Federation over Karoline Knotten case: “A bit ashamed to be Norwegian”

Biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen launched a sharp criticism of the Norwegian Biathlon Federation on TV 2, saying he felt “a bit ashamed to be Norwegian.” His comments centered on Karoline Knotten, who did not receive a national‑team spot this season despite being Norway’s second‑best woman in last year’s World Cup. According to Bjørndalen, it is “worrying and hopeless” that such a strong athlete was effectively pushed out in an Olympic season and left without adequate support.

Bjørndalen argued that Knotten has had to build her own support network for the season: arranging every training session and camp, booking flights, and hiring a new head coach, conditioning coach, and shooting coach. He stressed that Norway will depend on her at the Olympics, yet “we have not helped Karoline ahead of the season.”

National team head coach Per Arne Botnan pushed back, questioning why the topic resurfaced now and insisting the federation had clear reasons for its choices in the spring. He said the team still “facilitated what we could for an athlete not on the team,” including medical and physio access and the same ammunition and rifle testing as other athletes. “We’ve done quite a lot to make sure she had as good an entry as possible into the World Cup,” Botnan said, adding that Bjørndalen should check his facts before making such claims.

NRK biathlon expert Ola Lunde sided with the criticism, calling the solution “very strange,” saying Knotten has essentially only received help with weapon testing and otherwise had to manage on her own—“weak,” in his view, especially given the federation’s stated need for her.

Knotten herself, who skied the third leg as Norway finished second behind Sweden in the Hochfilzen relay, said she agrees with Bjørndalen. She acknowledged support with weapons and ammo, and some access to doctors and physios, but said she received no hands‑on support at altitude camps and often had to call for help only when problems arose. She praised her private coaches and family but said she has had to spend substantial time on administrative tasks and shoulder greater financial burdens. “The main thing before an Olympic season is to focus on sporting development, and I have not received help there. That’s why I agree the federation has absolutely not contributed to my development this year,” she concluded, while adding she is enjoying racing and looking forward to the rest of the season.

The exchange came on a day that marked an upturn for Norway’s women after a poor sprint in Östersund two weeks earlier, with NRK’s Ola Lunde now viewing them as Olympic medal contenders following the relay performance.