Olympic hope alive for Emil Iversen – secures World Cup start in Trondheim

Norway’s Emil Iversen kept his Olympic dream alive after being omitted from the World Cup opener in Ruka. The 34‑year‑old won the 10 km freestyle at the Norwegian Cup in Gålå by 1.3 seconds over Lars Heggen, with Håvard Moseby 11.6 seconds back. The result guarantees Iversen a place in the same event at the World Cup in Trondheim next week.

Many expected Iversen to be selected for Ruka after solid form at the season opener in Beitostølen. When Simen Hegstad Krüger fell ill and needed replacing, the federation instead chose Kjelsås skier Edvard Sandvik, citing, among other reasons, age differences (Iversen is 30 in the article’s quote; Sandvik 24). Iversen called the decision ‘frightening and disappointing’ in comments to TV 2.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo backed his teammate, saying that if a skier is good enough, he should get to race, and labeled the federation’s arguments ‘thin’. National team manager Per Elias Kalfoss acknowledged the criticism but maintained the selection was correct for that weekend.

Iversen celebrated at the finish in Gålå with his fiancée Bettina Burud. His performance not only secures a World Cup start on home snow in Trondheim but also strengthens his case for selection toward the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics.