Andreas Fjorden Ree beat Emil Iversen in the tracks, but not in the Olympic selection. This is what the 25-year-old says after receiving the news.

When Norwegian national team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum called on Monday, the message was not what he had hoped for. There will be no Olympic travel.

“It’s brutal,” Andreas Fjorden Ree told VG after the final selection for the 2026 Olympics was presented on Tuesday afternoon.

The 25-year-old from Støren has been left out. Instead, 34-year-old Emil Iversen takes the eighth spot in the Norwegian Olympic squad.

Read More: Norwegian cross-country skiing team confirmed for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Closer to Hedegart than Iversen

No one in the world has beaten former biathlete Einar Hedegart in the Olympic event, the 10-kilometer freestyle. But Fjorden Ree was just four tenths of a second away from victory in the 10-kilometer freestyle at the World Cup in Trondheim in December. Emil Iversen finished fourth.

In the same event at the season opener in Beitostølen, Fjorden Ree finished second, 13 seconds behind Hedegart. Iversen placed 18th, more than a minute behind Hedegart.

“I’ve been much closer to winning a ski race than Emil,” Fjorden Ree says.

At the same time, he acknowledges that Olympic selections are not based solely on potential to win.

“I might be closer to gold, but if we’re talking about medals, Emil is just as strong a medal candidate at the Olympics as I am,” he says.

Sent down to the Norwegian Cup

At the Norwegian Championships (NM) in Steinkjer on Thursday, Fjorden Ree secured another second place in the distance event, once again behind Hedegart, this time by 7.8 seconds. After the NM silver, he was clearly disappointed.

Speaking to Langrenn.com, Fjorden Ree explains that the focus now is on resetting. The Olympics were the main goal.

Now, Fjorden Ree is unsure how the rest of the season will unfold and fears it may be difficult to secure opportunities in international races over the winter.

“We’ll see what I’m allowed to race. It could be a long time until my next World Cup start. So, it’ll probably be the Norwegian Cup in Granåsen at some point. I’ll always find some ski races to do. Maybe I should prioritize training and try to take a few steps forward.”

Winter Olympic Games

February 4-22, 2026: Milano Cortina, Italy (Winter Olympic Games)

• 07/02: Skiathlon, Women
• 08/02: Skiathlon, Men
• 10/02: Sprint Classic, Women and Men
• 12/02: 10km Freestyle, Women
• 13/02: 10km Freestyle, Men
• 14/02: Relay, Women
• 15/02: Relay, Men
• 18/02: Team Sprint, Women and Men
• 21/02: 50km Classic, Men
• 22/02: 50km Classic, Women

*Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.