Nordic Combined: Jens Luraas Oftebro, the rise of a boss
On Tuesday in Tesero (Italy), 25-year-old Jens Luraas Oftebro won his second Olympic title in Nordic combined. After finishing 5th in the springboard, the young man dominated the cross-country race. After a lively start around Johannes Lamparter, the Scandinavian accelerated decisively on the final climb. “What Jens is doing here is majestic. He shows who’s boss,” applauded Joergen Graabak, consultant for NRK.
On February 11, he had already shone on the track after a jump on the small hill. He won by one second ahead of the Austrian, the World Cup leader, and overtook Finland’s Eero Hirvonen for bronze.
His success in Milan-Cortina was no accident. Born in Bærum and trained at the IL Jardar club, he made a name for himself with his first World Cup victory in 2020 in Ruka (Finland), before gradually climbing the world rankings. At the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing (China), he already showed his class by winning team gold and individual silver.
The story of Jens Luraas Oftebro cannot be told without mentioning his older brother, Einar Luraas Oftebro. Affectionately nicknamed the Oftebrothers, the two Norwegians have always shared the same passion for the Nordic discipline. In Oberhof (Germany) last January, Jens and Einar treated spectators to a fascinating duel: Jens won ahead of his brother, who was also in great form, illustrating a fraternal but constructive rivalry.
Outside of competition, Jens Luraas Oftebro has not escaped the vagaries of a demanding sport. A fall with his brother during a training outing left him with a fractured hand just over a year ago, but he bounced back without letting the injury hinder his progress.
His approach to the race – never spectacular in jumping, but formidable in cross-country skiing – makes him a leader in his own right in today’s Nordic combined.
On Thursday, Jens Luraas Oftebro could add another medal to his collection in the group event.
