By early January 2022, over half of Norway’s delegation of winter athletes were selected for the trip to Beijing in February 2022. More were added to the throng January 18th, including those competing at the Paralympics Games in March.
Are Norway’s best up for the challenge? Here are some top competitors to watch:
Johannes Thingnes Bø – Biathlon
Scoring a gold and two silver medals in the 2018 games in South Korea, this 28-year old skiing and shooting sensation from Stryn in western Norway is expected to ascend the podium even more frequently in 2022. Today’s sport of skiskyting is derived from Nordic military exercises dating back to the 1700s, making Johannes and his teammates naturals to win big in Beijing.
Photo credit: Christian Bier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maiken Caspersen Falla – Cross Country Skiing
A brilliant combatant in the world of short races and sprints, Falla has won 10 World Championship medals, five of which are gold. She is also a highly decorated World Cup athlete, ranked as the second-best sprinter of all time behind the legendary Marit Bjørgen. Falla grew up near Oslo, playing a wide variety of sports with her twin brother, Marius, who is also a langrennsløper.
Photo credit: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Birk Ruud – Freestyle Skiing
At the age of 16, Birk Ruud first displayed his fierce talent by grabbing a gold medal during the Youth Olympics in Lillehammer. Today, he is known as a “triple threat” in the world of freeskiing, regularly competing in halfpipe, big air and slopestyle events. As one of the youngest athletes from the Norwegian delegation, he is dedicated to entertaining freeski fans and ascending the gold medal podium in all three of his disciplines.
Photo credit: 2019 Getty Images via olympics.com
There are many other fascinating athletes from Norway destined to compete in Beijing. Along with the above-mentioned competitors, keep an eye open for about 90 competitors facing off in 65 of the 109 events scheduled in Beijing, all giving alt for Norge.