Jenssen opened up about the nerves, support, and advice that fueled his success.

“This Was My Main Goal”

Before the Lillehammer World Cup weekend, Jenssen declared the skiathlon his most crucial race of the season—perhaps even more important than the World Championships themselves. After a nail-biting final lap, he finished a razor-thin second behind Harald Østberg Amundsen, taking a big step closer to earning a spot on Norway’s World Championship team for his dream event.

“This result means so much. This race has been my primary goal since May. When my coach Kristian Skrødal and I planned my path to the skiathlon at the World Championships, this event topped the list. To succeed here today is incredibly satisfying,” Jenssen said after crossing the finish line.

“It was amazing to have that fight with Harald again. I wear size 46 shoes, so I was hoping my long toes might tip the scales in my favor,” he joked to langrenn.com.

Inspired by Northug

Jenssen revealed that former ski legend Petter Northug played a significant role in his success.

“Petter inspired me. He joined a training discussion with me and Skrødal during a camp in Molde in October. He shared so much wisdom that I managed to secure second place today,” Jenssen said.

When asked about the advice Northug gave him, Jenssen replied:
“It was a lot—strategies for skiing fast here. And it’s just so cool to see how invested he was when I crossed the finish line.”

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Support System

Despite Northug’s impact, Jenssen emphasized the many people who contributed to his success.

“There are so many people who help me, who care about me, and who make sacrifices for me. They know who they are. I could never have done this alone,” said an emotional Jenssen.

At 28, Jenssen has had strong results, including an individual World Cup win and five additional top-10 finishes last season, yet he was not included in the national team. Now, his focus is on earning a World Championship spot.

“This race was crucial. If I hadn’t performed well today, I could have kissed my World Championship dreams goodbye. But now, I’ve taken a huge step forward.”

While Northug believes Jenssen could win gold in the skiathlon at the World Championships, Jenssen is taking nothing for granted.

“I still have to perform well in another skiathlon during the Tour de Ski. I hope I get the chance and that I can deliver again.”

Overcoming Nerves

Jenssen admitted the tension was high before the race:
“I think Simen Hegstad Krüger was the only Norwegian who wasn’t nervous. He knows he’s guaranteed a spot in this event at the World Championships. The rest of us were on edge, but I managed to keep my nerves in check when the race started.”

He credited his strength during the classical section of the race as a key to staying in contention.

“Martin Læwstrøm Nyenget really pushed the pace from the start—it was a mental battle because it was so fast. But luckily, I felt strong on the classic portion and managed to hang on.”

A Somber Note

Jenssen’s excitement was tempered by concern for teammate Erik Valnes, who had to withdraw from the race due to heart arrhythmia.

“That’s tough to hear. I hope he’s okay. He’s a great friend and deserves credit for my race today—I used his skis.”