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The 24-year-old had just passed out in ninth place after a second-shot boom. Suddenly, she disappeared from the results lists, and soon after, television footage showed Tandrevold lying in the snow, with a large group of team leaders around her. It seemed dramatic.
– I had cardiac fibrillation coming off the mat after the last shot and felt really bad, and I actually lost all the energy in my body, Tandrevold tells NRK a few hours after the race.
He feels so much better now, Thursday night, and he even knew what it was about when it happened.
– I recognized the symptoms immediately. It’s happened once before, and it was actually here at Oberhof in 2017, he reveals.
This is the first time he has told about heart fibrillation that occurred four years ago.
– It has only happened once before, more than four years ago. It doesn’t happen often or is a problem. The last time it happened, they examined me both at the German Olympic Center and later at my home in Oslo, and they found no irregularities. Of course, I also checked my heart before this season, finding no fault, he explains.
DRAMATICS: Ingrid Tandrevold received immediate help when she had to stop uphill in the sprint.
– I do not know why
After Thursday’s collapse, it has conducted extensive investigations. The results of the ECG have been sent to the Olympic Summit for verification.
– Everything seemed completely normal. I’m not really scared or anxious right now. I’m sorry that happened, says Tandrevold.
He felt like he was having a good race and that he was in better shape than he was last weekend.
– I don’t know why it happens now. I felt very alert during the race, obvious and good. I had a very good race. Everything was much better than last weekend here on the ski slope. I was very willing to bite Tiril on the back, but I couldn’t, and I just had to get off, continues Tandrevold by phone from the hotel in Germany.
FEEL GOOD: Ingrid Tandrevold in today’s sprint at Oberhof.
Photo: Matthias Schrader / AP
She says she hasn’t been sure if she really should tell what happened.
– Because I don’t want this to be the main focus in the future. I have a good health team behind me and they take good care of me, and together we make good decisions. I just want to look forward and continue as usual, he says.
– Shit worried
Around the same time that Tandrevold collapsed, Tiril Eckhoff entered the fastest time. Despite a barrier, the cross country weather was good enough for the victory. This is their third consecutive World Cup victory and sixth overall this season.
– It’s a bit ambivalent. I am happy with my own race, but concerned for Ingrid. I just hope it’s nothing serious. She’s a good friend, so it’s not good to see him, when he’s a scooter, and he falls apart, Eckhoff tells NRK right after the finish line.
He had no idea what had happened to his teammate before reaching the finish line.
– It’s real shit. We had a great morning together, jogged, and had fun filming. There was a good flow in the «Kant ut» team. Then it is typical that there is a landslide and it ruins the day at the most. So now I’ll just support Ingrid in the room, he adds.
FRIENDS: Ingrid Tandrevold and Tiril Eckhoff have been on the podium together this season.
Photo: Matthias Schrader / AP
Will take over
Sports manager Per Arne Botnan was nearby on the opposite hill where the Fossum runner had to suddenly break. They helped her remove her skis and poles, laid her on her side and covered her with a jacket.
Later, Tandrevold was scooter-driven back to the arena. There she was received by the team’s physiotherapist, changed and warmed up. The Norwegian team has two physiotherapists with them at the German Oberhof, but no doctors.
On Thursday evening, Tandrevold is authorized for the next competitions in Oberhof. On Saturday there is a relay for women.
– Ingrid wants to go to the relay, but there are two more days and a continuous evaluation, writes the doctor of the national team Lars Kolsrud in an SMS to NRK.
– Of course we will see how I feel tomorrow, but the plan now is that I will continue and go here as planned, he says.
– Are you afraid that this will happen again?
– No not really. But right after that, of course, you are sad and I was a little scared. But now I feel great and I know that I will come back stronger. I’m pretty sure quitting was okay when it happened, and that health comes first. I know it’s not dangerous and I think it’s okay to continue, he says.
- On Friday, men go to relay at Oberhof, while women go to relay on Saturday. Sunday is a joint start for both women and men.
