Einar Hedegart continues to beat the World’s best in the 10km freestyle, yet remains without confirmation for Norway’s Olympic team.

So far this season, Einar Hedegart has won every race in the 10-kilometer freestyle individual start format, which is on the Olympic program. Twice in the World Cup and once at the Norwegian season opener in Beitostølen. The former biathlete from the private team Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør also finished second in the 20-kilometer freestyle mass start at the World Cup opener in Ruka.

Martin Johnsrud Sundby believes this gives the Norwegian cross-country ski leadership more than just reasons to celebrate.

“I think it’s extremely provocative. I believe the race in Beitostølen was a bit of a shock for many because he was so dominant,” Sundby told Eurosport.

The former World Champion is now a cross-country skiing expert for HBO Max and will, among other things, commentate on the Olympic Games in February.

But even though the 24-year-old from Norway is currently clearly the World’s best in the 10-kilometer freestyle, Sundby does not believe Hedegart can expect any Olympic guarantees when the first selection is announced later this week.

Almost all media outlets in Davos asked national team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum whether Hedegart is now Olympic-ready. But he would not give a clear answer.

“He has at least delivered three very strong applications. We will sit down and discuss the Olympic squad in due course,” Nossum told NRK.

Asked why he cannot say that Hedegart is selected, he replied:

“Because there is no Olympic selection today, that happens next week.”

Also Read: Norwegian sweep continues as Hedegart wins 10km freestyle in Davos

Things can change quickly

Sundby believes the situation can change rapidly. He points, among others, to Simen Hegstad Krüger, who is currently far outside the Olympic squad.

The national team veteran was ill during the World Cup opener in Ruka and performed well below expectations at the World Cup in Trondheim. After finishing 17th and 10th, Krüger was dropped from the World Cup in Davos last weekend.

Instead, Krüger competed in the Scandinavian Cup in Östersund, where he absolutely had to perform, and did precisely that. On Sunday, he won the 10-kilometer race, an Olympic discipline, in a powerful field.

Also Read: Scandinavian Cup: Results from the 10km Interval Start in Östersund

“If the scenario is that it becomes tight and others start delivering… Say Krüger, for example, wins a World Cup race, which he likely will once he finds form, while Hedegart’s form may dip a little. Then it will be very close,” Sundby explains.

If that happens, it could negatively affect Hedegart and others outside the national team.

“What is a real situation, and something Hedegart should be aware of, just like Emil Iversen, is that everything that can be used against them going forward will be used. They will be in a situation where any poor race will be a reason not to select them, while any strong race by national team athletes will be a reason to select those instead,” Sundby says.

The women’s puzzle

Hedegart is not the only private team athlete giving the national team leadership something to think about. His teammate Karoline Simpson-Larsen has also impressed this season. On Sunday, she claimed her first World Cup podium by winning the 10-kilometer race in Davos.

Also Read: Simpson-Larsen edges Ilar in tight 10km freestyle battle in Davos

The 28-year-old, whose best World Cup result before the season was a 10th place in Les Rousses, has either set a new career best or matched her personal record every weekend so far this season. Simpson-Larsen is now fourth overall and the best Norwegian in the distance World Cup standings.

Read More: Cross-Country World Cup 2025/2026: Updated standings after Davos

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