Sundby would pick Emil Iversen for Norway’s 2026 Olympic team: “He’s created a hell of a shake‑up”

HBO Max/Eurosport Olympic expert Martin Johnsrud Sundby believes Emil Iversen has forced his way into the discussion for Norway’s cross‑country team for the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Iversen has opened the season with his best results in years: double victories in Norway Cup races at Gålå (10 km freestyle and 20 km classic), followed by a World Cup podium in Trondheim (3rd in skiathlon) and 4th in the 10 km freestyle. After the Trondheim results, a visibly emotional Iversen said his focus is the Olympics and that he has “firmly entered the fight” for selection.

Sundby argues that if Iversen continues at this level, he will be “impossible to ignore,” even if that creates selection turmoil. He points to three Norwegian men who have already won World Cup races this season—Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Harald Østberg Amundsen, and Einar Hedegart—as locks. He then highlights Erik Valnes, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, and Iversen as additional athletes who have been on the podium, and includes Andreas Fjorden Ree.

Sundby’s current eight-man shortlist (Norway expects seven or eight quota spots) is: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Harald Østberg Amundsen, Einar Hedegart, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Erik Valnes, Emil Iversen, Ansgar Evensen, and Andreas Fjorden Ree. He says the final spot for a pure sprinter likely comes down to Ansgar Evensen versus Oskar Opstad Vike, with room for only one unless sprint coach Arild Monsen convinces the federation otherwise.

Sundby also addresses the complexities facing non‑national‑team skiers, who must continually prove themselves, recalling Iversen’s sharp criticism of the Norwegian Ski Federation after being left out of the Ruka World Cup opener despite strong Beitostølen results. While Sundby’s “gut feeling” is that Iversen may still miss the Olympics due to potential pitfalls, he stresses that, based on current form, Iversen is “100 percent qualified” right now. If the veteran keeps performing, Sundby says, selection chaos is inevitable.

The debate underscores the crowded Norwegian men’s field ahead of the 2026 Games and the balancing act between form, results, and internal selection dynamics.