Last winter, the Norwegian women’s national team delivered the worst World Cup season ever. In the upcoming winter, the World Championships await on home soil. Expectations are enormous, and time is short, but Marit Bjørgen has a plan.

Bjørgen has been an athlete at the World Cup level for 19 years, experiencing both adversity and prosperity. She is also an expert in cross-country skiing. And she is a woman. Marit Bjørgen is now the coach of the Norwegian women’s national team.

Last winter, the Norwegian women’s national team delivered the worst World Cup season ever. Next winter, the World Championships await on home soil in Trondheim. The coaching trio of Sjur Ole Svarstad, Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass, and Marit Bjørgen have a job to do to turn the ship around in time.

Also Read: Nightmare season for Norway – best for Sweden

After her first day in the role, since she was hired earlier in May, Bjørgen is starting to understand how she will tackle the task.

Of course, there are some very specific things to address: technique, capacity, endurance, strength, and speed, the usual elements of traditional cross-country training. But the national team veteran wants to start at a different end.

“To begin with, it’s about getting to know each other well and building a good relationship. I think it’s important to create a sense of security and to get the athletes to be confident in what they’re doing and have the self-confidence and belief in it,” Bjørgen tells TV2.

She points out that the athletes have done many things right and put in a lot of good training. Now, they have to learn from their gathered experiences, both ups and downs.

With her background and experience, Bjørgen believes she can contribute by seeing things from a slightly different perspective and providing input: “Be clear. Slow them down when they want too much but don’t realize it themselves. Teach them to take responsibility for their development. Teach them to interpret the signals and know when to accelerate and hold back. And avoid making the same mistakes all over again.”

The goal is for the athletes to become confident and regain the self-confidence required to take the final step. That job must be done step by step.

Regarding medal chances at this winter’s World Championships, Bjørgen is careful not to make any promises.

The women’s team consists of some experienced skiers, including Heidi Weng, Tiril, and Lotta Udnes Weng, but also some who do not yet have much experience at the top level. Among them are Margrethe Bergane, who won the U23 World Cup, and Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, who came in from the national recruit team this year.

“I think it’s important to be realistic. There are athletes on the team who have the opportunity to compete for medals. Some athletes need to stabilize at a higher level. It wasn’t so long ago that we were doing really well, and then we hit a bump in the road last year.”

Are you interested in other Norwegian national teams for season 2024/2025? Click the links below.

• Norwegian national cross-country skiing team for the season 2024/2025
• Norway’s national recruiting team for season 2024/2025
• Norway’s junior national team for season 2024/2025
• Team Elon Innlandet for season 2024/2025
• Team Elon West for season 2024/2025
• Team Elon Mid-Norway for season 2024/2025