After being dropped from the Norwegian national team, dealing with injuries, and enduring two poor seasons, the answers she received in her season debut at Beitostølen gave her anything but confidence.

After two tough seasons and being cut from the Norwegian national team, the 33-year-old from Lundamo has a burning desire to make an Olympic comeback.

“I want to ski fast again,” says Anne Kjersti Kalvå.

But her fifth place in the season opener at Beitostølen brings more doubt than reassurance.

“It was pretty average. It was an OK start, but it felt a bit heavy. I think I have a few more gears in me,” Kalvå tells Langrenn.com after Saturday’s 10km classic race at Beitostølen.

“You just have to keep working. It’s good to get some races in, and I’m looking forward to skating tomorrow. I think that could go better.”

Brutal selection battle

Kalvå knows precisely what it takes to secure a place on the Norwegian team for the 2026 Olympics. The selection criteria are extremely tough, and after two difficult seasons, she does not hold the strongest cards.

The Olympic selection is based on the following, in ranked order:

1. Relevant results in the 2025/2026 World Cup
2. Results from 2024/2025
3. Performances in previous championships carry merit

Chasing a comeback

At the 2023 World Championships in Planica, Kalvå was the best Norwegian woman. She won gold in the relay and silver in the 30km. She earned eight World Cup podiums that winter, with only one finish outside the top 10. Expectations were sky-high.

But after her massive success in Planica, the 2023/2024 season became a disappointment, with a third place at the World Cup Finals in Falun as her only podium. She attributed the decline to a combination of injuries and lack of energy.

Ahead of last season, Kalvå made changes, returning to the training plan she used in her gold-winning year and putting everything into the World Championships on home snow in Trondheim. But the result was another difficult season, with only small highlights. She made the World Championships team but was not selected for any races. In April, she lost her place on the Norwegian national team.

Still, Kalvå refuses to give up, and now the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics in February is the main goal for the distance specialist from Lundamo.

Rolled up her sleeves

After being dropped, she joined forces with Astrid Øyre Slind from the private Team Aker Dæhlie. Both are going all-in for the 2026 Olympics in Italy, and Kalvå is happy with her preparation.

“It has been very good. Astrid is the one I’ve trained with the most, and we have had many long sessions together. I’ve been pushed a lot and learned some new things.”

Must deliver

Kalvå is now waiting to see whether her fifth place in Saturday’s 10km classic will be enough to earn a spot in next weekend’s World Cup opener in Ruka. On Sunday, she will race the 10km freestyle — also an Olympic event in February.

During the three race days at Beitostølen, it will become clear which athletes will compete in the World Cup opener in Ruka from November 28–30, the first step toward the 2026 Olympics.

Then follow three World Cup races in Trondheim from December 5–7, also featuring three Olympic events.

National team coach Marit Bjørgen says she is curious to see what Kalvå can achieve after her restart with Team Aker Dæhlie.

“I’m excited about her. I think changing the training environment was a good thing, and it could have a positive effect. I hope she is competitive from the start,” Bjørgen tells Langrenn.com.

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