In March, the Norwegian biathlon star was so exhausted that she needed two months to recover. Now, as the season kicks off this weekend, she has a clear but slightly different goal. 

The “monster wall” in March was a defining moment for Karoline Knotten. The 29-year-old biathlete from Lillehammer had to take a hard look at herself and set some clear rules. In September, she turned things around, winning two consecutive gold medals at the Norwegian roller skiing biathlon championships. 

Now Knotten is ready for the Norwegian national season opener at Sjusjøen this weekend. She has a somewhat unusual but clear objective: 

“I hope I lack the final gear. Ideally, there shouldn’t be any explosiveness left on the last lap,” she says. 

While she feels in shape and ready, last winter taught her an important lesson. This time, she wants to avoid falling into the same trap again. 

When ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langd.se met her at the Norwegian national team’s final camp before the competition season, she spoke about the importance of being honest and addressing the situation. 

“I noticed that during the last weekends of the World Cup last winter, I was completely drained. This year, I want to feel strong even at the end of the season,” she explains. 

That’s why Knotten hopes she doesn’t have the “final gear” during the opening weekend at Sjusjøen. 

“I want to feel good at the start now but not at my peak,” she says. 

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 Needed Clear Rules 

What happened last winter was a real wake-up call. After the World Cup final in Canada in March, she was so exhausted that she needed two months of rest and recovery. 

“I was completely running on empty,” she says at a press conference in Beitostølen. 

Knotten has learned a lot from the “monster wall” in March. 

Among other things, she’s become better at recognizing early warning signs, continuously evaluating her condition, and taking action to save herself before it’s too late. She has also set clear rules for herself this season, revolving around a simple question: 

“Am I fit enough to compete?” 

Knotten has a big, overarching goal for this season. 

“Of course, I’m thinking about the World Championships. But I’m more focused on the World Cup and aiming for my first victory this year. It could be in any World Cup race,” she tells Langd.se. 

Despite having 11 World Cup podium finishes since her debut in 2018, the 29-year-old from Vingrom IL has yet to stand on the top step in an individual race. 

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