A Norwegian cross-country star fires shots at the Swedes ahead of the 2026 Olympic season – and gets it right back.

The Norwegian cross-country skiers scoff at the Swedes’ approach going into the 2025/2026 Olympic season. They believe that several of Sweden’s top athletes are deliberately skipping races to fine-tune their form for major championships. Last year, several Swedes chose to skip World Cup events and even the Tour de Ski, or dropped out midway through the Tour.

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Harald Østberg Amundsen says he’s both surprised and disappointed by what he sees as an unsportsmanlike trend of skipping races for strategic reasons.

“I feel that in Norway, if you get the chance to race in the World Cup, you take it. It’s really only Johannes (Klæbo) who can afford to skip races. Everyone else knows the competition for those spots is so fierce that if you get the opportunity to race the Tour de Ski or other events, you go,” Østberg Amundsen told Dagbladet.

“In Sweden, many have the chance to race the World Cup whenever they want. But that also means they skip races whenever they want, and I don’t really like that trend,” he added.

“Afraid to race”

The 27-year-old, who won both the Tour de Ski and the overall World Cup in 2024, thinks the Swedes are cowardly.

“Yes, at least the men’s side of the Swedish national team is afraid of a lot — afraid to push too hard and afraid to race. They need to step it up,” says Østberg Amundsen.

His teammate Erik Valnes believes Østberg Amundsen is being too soft and that the Swedes’ strategy reflects poor sportsmanship.

“Planning not to race — I really don’t like that. It’s a bad culture. We’re part of building the product that is cross-country skiing, and we have a responsibility there,” says the veteran skier.

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The Swedes strike back: “Talking crap”

The comments didn’t go over well with the rivals from the east, who reacted strongly.

Edvin Anger, who finished second overall in the World Cup last winter — behind only Klæbo — hit back at the accusations.

“I was a bit surprised when I read what he (Østberg Amundsen) said. I simply don’t understand what he’s basing it on. Not me, at least. He competes less than I do,” said the 23-year-old to Expressen, continuing:

“And I don’t know who he’s talking about skipping races. No, I don’t get his logic at all.”

Emil Danielsson, who joined Sweden’s elite national team last year, agreed.

“I think it’s pretty low to throw that kind of stuff at us. I probably skipped two races at most, and Edvin (Anger) raced everything. But they talk so much crap all the time. He (Harald Østberg Amundsen) should calm down,” he said.

World Championship silver medalist William Poromaa sighed at the remarks.

“I’m not even going to respond to that — I can’t be bothered,” he said.

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Already qualified for the Olympics

At the same time, the situation is very different between the two nations.

In Sweden, five cross-country skiers already know they’re going to the Olympics, a decision that was made back in May.

Read More: Five Swedish cross-country skiers confirmed for the 2026 Winter Olympics

In Norway, no athlete can expect an Olympic spot until the final selection in mid-January — and this year, competition for places is even more challenging than before.

The season starts in a month

Exactly one month from today, the cross-country World Cup kicks off in Ruka, Finland (November 28).

After that come two more World Cup rounds before Christmas, followed by the Tour de Ski from December 28 to January 4.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held from February 6 to 22.

Also Read
Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season
Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

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