Advised to retire, now she debuts in the World Cup

Biathlon

Advised to retire, now she debuts in the World Cup

by Ingeborg Scheve/translated by Katerina Paul • 11.12.2024

Member Article

Photo: Nordnes/NordicFocus

Less than a week ago, 25-year-old Marit Øygard from Norway competed in her first international senior-level races. In just three days, she will debut in the Biathlon World Cup.

The 25-year-old has had a whirlwind start to the season. A week ago, she was selected for the IBU Cup in Geilo, marking her first international senior races. Now, less than a week later, Øygard is gearing up for her World Cup debut—something she hadn’t expected at all.

“I was really surprised when I got the call to compete in the IBU Cup in Geilo last week. There are many other girls with at least as good, if not better, results than me, so I was in a bit of shock,” Øygard told ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langrenn.com as she prepared for her first competitions at the highest level.

Her performance at Geilo surpassed expectations, making the opportunity to debut in the World Cup even more exciting.

What are your expectations for the World Cup debut?

“I honestly haven’t had much time to think about anything; everything has happened so fast,” Øygard says.

“Right now, I’m excited about everything. I’m just looking forward to arriving, calming down, training a bit, and getting my mind off all the chaos from the last few days so I can enjoy the experience.”

As for results, she hasn’t set specific goals for her debut. Her primary focus is gaining experience.

“My shoulders are low, and I haven’t even had time to think about expectations. I’m trying to live in the moment, take it one hour at a time, and get to the start line. If I can perform a solid biathlon race where I shoot and ski my best, I’ll be happy—that’s all I can do,” Øygard concludes.

Why is this happening now?

“I’ve been able to follow my training plan this year, staying free from illness and injury, which obviously helps,” she explains.

“But me competing in the World Cup isn’t a given. I’ve had some bumps along the way, like many elite athletes, but somehow, I’ve managed to overcome them and focus on turning disadvantages into advantages.”

*Marit Oeygard (NOR). Photo: Nordnes/NordicFocus*

Advised to Retire

Five years ago, Øygard’s career almost ended. During Christmas 2019, she developed a blood clot in her left leg. She now deals with two damaged blood vessels in that leg, which affects her daily.

“These vessels are pretty important—they return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart. Mine don’t work properly, which means lactic acid builds up. It feels like my left leg is drowning in lactic acid, while my right leg feels completely fine,” she says, adding that it took time to adapt.

“I’ve tried a lot of things, but nothing worked. So I decided to learn to ignore it and focus on what I can control.”

Did you consider retiring?

“No. However, a specialist doctor did recommend that I quit elite sports, suggesting it might not be the best for me. But I’m stubborn, so I decided that’s exactly what I wouldn’t do,” Øygard says with a smile.

Credits Her Coaching Team

Øygard is quick to acknowledge the support behind her World Cup debut.

Last year, she was part of the private team Team 1.5, with former elite athlete Håvard Bogetveit as her head coach.

This year, she trains independently with the support of legendary coach Roger Grubben and Belgian national team coach Margit Dal Sørensen.

“I have very skilled coaches who support me and ensure my training aligns with my philosophy. Having a clear, simple plan from May to November and focusing on just a few key elements has made everything easier.”