Norwegian fiasco in New Year jumping — worst in 24 years: 'They let themselves be influenced too much'

The Norwegian team produced a disappointing start to 2026 in the New Year ski jumping competition at Garmisch-Partenkirchen — their weakest New Year’s event in 24 years. Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal was the top Norwegian, finishing 16th, while Robin Pedersen and Johann André Forfang were 17th and 18th, Marius Lindvik 22nd and Isak Andreas Langmo 29th.

Eriksen Sundal expressed frustration after the event, criticising intense focus on equipment details and the perceived unfairness about small measurements and checks. His remarks came after Wednesday’s qualifying when both Halvor Egner Granerud and Anna Odine Strøm were disqualified.

Viaplay expert Anders Jacobsen commented that the jumpers "let themselves be influenced too much" — pointing to equipment troubles, disqualifications and weaknesses in training as contributing issues. With just over a month until the Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina, the team faces little time to address problems.

The piece frames the result as a major setback for Norway’s hopes ahead of the Olympics and calls for the team to dig into its toolbox to find solutions quickly.