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In late July, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg suffered her second fatigue fracture to her foot, after recently returning from a long absence of the first fatigue fracture in March.
The full 2020/21 season for the Gjøvik cross country race is over.
– Unfortunately, I don’t want to go skiing this season, which of course is boring, Østberg writes in an email to his partners and sponsors, which Oppland Arbeiderblad has had access to.
The girl from Gjøvik had an absolutely brilliant 2018/19 season with a World Cup victory in total, the Tour de Ski and a total of five World Cup medals in Seefeld.
At the time, Flugstad Østberg was perhaps the best cross-country skier in the world overall, despite Therese Johaug being better at distance races.
However, last winter the painful adversity began. Østberg was denied entry to Beitostølen because he did not meet the requirements of the Ski Federation health certificate. Still, he came back quickly and went straight to the top of the world again on the comeback.
Østberg: – I will do everything I can to return
However, before the World Cup final in the Norwegian snow at Holmenkollen in March, Flugstad Østberg came out on crutches due to the first fatigue fracture.
Østberg’s transformation amazes: – Why are you doing it there?
The pain worsened in March and the way back is long. So this entire season is coming to an end for Østberg, who instead points to a comeback in the 2021/22 Olympic season.
– After all, that’s what I work very hard for every day and it’s what I love to do. That said, there is no doubt that I will do my best to come back strong, warns Østberg.
– There is nothing to say about motivation and will, and I will use it for everything worthwhile in the work that will be done in the future. In the last few weeks I have skied more and more and it has been absolutely wonderful, says the girl from Gjøvik.
Considering breaking tradition
The remainder of the first match of the elite cross-country season in Beitostølen next week.
