Norway’s men’s combined team, which includes ski jumping and skiing, ended up with another bronze medal after Friday’s relay and jumping off the large hill at Holmenkollen, and the athletes were disappointed. Austria wound up winning the gold medal, and Germany the silver.
Magnus Moan of the Norwegian team said he felt like a pile of concrete on the tracks, “and I didn’t get any more out of it,” he told reporters at a press conference after the combined teams’ last event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (Ski-VM).
Moan skied the last leg of the relay and managed to stay up with his Austrian and German rivals at one point, but ended up falling back. He’s been ill during the championships, so claimed he wasn’t in the best shape. He fought hard against the French to stay in third place.
“You can’t do anything with illness,” Moan said. “I’m sorry it went as it did, but today I couldn’t manage much more.”
His teammates were more upbeat: “It was a fine day,” said Mikko Kokslien after the bronze was secured. “There was action on the tracks and there was sunshine.”
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that it became clear already after the first two laps that the fight for the gold would be between Austria and Germany.
“We had an uncertain position after the jumping,” said team coach Kjetil Strandbråten. “We are very satisfied with the bronze. The guys ran a good race.”
Norway continued to lead the medals count Friday evening, with a total of 15: Six gold, four silver and five bronze. The men’s cross-country relay added the latest gold and huge celebration at Holmenkollen Friday afternoon.
Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund
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