Vebjørn Sørum is still furious after the shocking dismissal in April. Now the 27-year-old is taking a strong stand against the Norwegian Biathlon Federation.

After his outstanding 2024/2025 season, Vebjørn Sørum finally earned the spot he had worked for: the elite national team.

Through the summer and autumn, the 27-year-old was among the best on the team, both physically and on the shooting range. He felt ready to truly establish himself among the world’s best.

Then it all fell apart.

A stubborn back injury and several periods of illness ruined his winter. His Olympic hopes disappeared before Christmas. In April, his national team spot disappeared too. He wasn’t offered a “relegation” to the recruit team either. The reason given was a lack of results.

“I was shocked and angry,” Sørum tells TV 2.

He believes it’s wrong to look solely at results without considering the full picture.

“If I have a year of illness and injuries, I don’t think it’s fair to be thrown out of the entire system. That means I have zero trust in the federation and those who run it,” says Sørum.

Also Read: Norwegian biathlon teams for season 2026/2027

Disrespectful

After being cut, the 27-year-old had several meetings with the board of the Norwegian Biathlon Federation, which had just gone through major changes both administratively and sportingly.

Sørum presented his case, but the federation did not change its mind.

Sørum is not impressed by the treatment he has received from the federation. He believes the national team management acted disrespectfully, and that they did not have the full picture when they cut him. He has made that clear.

The federation’s newly hired sports director, Lars Mæland, responds to the criticism.

“It’s very sad and unfortunate to hear. I do feel it. I’m a person, just as much as he is when he speaks out. We take this very seriously. We’ve had some good meetings in the spring and talked things through well, as we see it,” Mæland tells TV 2.

Setting clear demands

Sørum sees it differently. Now he’s making clear demands of the national team management.

“They need to be open and honest. And use arguments that can hold up to scrutiny,” says Sørum.

“It’s about the athletes’ rights.”

Sørum believes the federation has a lot to improve on there. He has sat alone in meetings with management. That takes courage, and he doesn’t think all athletes dare to do it.

He’s now calling for a flatter structure, one that gives athletes more influence.

He has the support of national team veteran Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, who is also the athletes’ union representative.

Betting his savings

Vebjørn Sørum is now outside the federation, going it alone. The goal is the same: the world’s best.

He’s reluctant to put an exact figure on the cost, but suggests it could easily add up to more than half a million kroner (about Euro 45.000) out of his own pocket.

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