Ingvild Flugstad Østberg delivered a solid comeback season after several years of health problems, rewarded with new trust from the national team management. Now the 32-year-old says that the year outside has taken its toll.

“I am looking forward to being with this group here next year,” says Ingvild Flugstad Østberg to Langrenn.com during the announcement of the Norwegian National Team for the season 2023/2024. 

The 32-year-old, who made a comeback this winter after several seasons of health problems, was dropped from the national team after the 2022 Olympic season. She has been outside the national team for the last season, although she has been on tour with the national team squad, both at the World Cup and the World Championships. 

At the weekend, she won her first race of the season, Skarverennet. She beat the next skier in the 37-kilometer spring classic by almost two and a half minutes. 

Nevertheless, Flugstad Østberg has felt the need to be 100 percent:

“From November until now, I have been part of the team. It was “only” last spring, summer, and autumn that I was alone, but it was something exceptional,” she says and continues: 

“Training is one thing. I manage to carry it out and train well. And there is a lot outside of the sporting aspect of the organization, my camps, the financial aspect, and everything that requires extra time and energy when I have fixed everything myself. It was quite different last year. I am very happy to be back now.” 

Also Read: Ingvild Flugstad Østberg Is Taking Big Steps Towards A Comeback In November

Although Flugstad Østberg is now back in the national team, she plans to take some of the support apparatus from the solo season with her. But she has not yet nailed down the details of this plan. 

What about your support apparatus? Are you bringing it from your private venture? 

“Everything is not entirely decided yet. It is clear that Pål Gunnar (Mikkelsplass) and I will continue to talk a lot. But most likely, I will have the coaches on the national team as the coaches I will see most often. And that it will be the most practical,” says Flugstad Østberg, and adds: 

“We must look at the other apparatus a bit, so everything must be set and decided. I will find out at the beginning of May.”  

Ingvild Flugstad Østberg is one of ten women on the Norwegian National Team for next season.

Read More: Norway’s National Cross-Country Ski Team For Season 2023/2024