Biathlon: only Vebjoern Soerum is not ill
This summer, Norway’s men’s national B biathlon team has six members: Johan-Olav Botn, Isak Frey, Vebjoern Soerum, Martin Nevland, Martin Uldal and Mats Oeverby.
So far, their preparations have been going ideally… especially since they dominated the members of Group A, the world superstars in the discipline, at the Norwegian summer championships last month. However, currently on altitude training camp at the Lavazè Pass (Italy), the team is going through a difficult period: according to NRK, five of the six biathletes are ill, with only Mats Oeverby still training.
While Johan-Olav Botn will soon be able to join his team-mate in the sessions, Isak Frey, Martin Uldal, Martin Nevland and Mats Oeverby have already returned home.
“It will affect our form at the start of the season, regrets Johan-Olav Botn, who tested positive for Covid-19. But it will be good over the winter anyway, so we have to try and put it into perspective.” Anders Oeverby, the group’s coach, takes responsibility for the fiasco, explaining that he should have isolated his biathletes better.
In any case, the major Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen (Norway) will take place from 15 to 17 November.
