Maiken Caspersen Fall critically after Norway’s failure
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ZHANGJIAKOU / STOCKHOLM. Norway was never close to the medals in the sprint relay.
Now Maiken Caspersen criticizes Falla national team management.
– I do not think the preparations have been good enough, she says.
except Therese Johaugs gold medals, it has been difficult for the Norwegian ladies. This is someone that both the national team manager Espen Bjervig and the women’s coach Ole Morten Iversen pointed out during the Olympics.
Bjervig said last week that it is so bad for the relay that he thought about asking the biathlete Tiril Eckhoff if she could take a stretch. Iversen, in turn, said that it would be a bang if someone other than Johaug takes a medal in some distance race and that the star should perhaps go all the stages in the relay.
“Feel sorry for the team”
The statements are not appreciated by Maiken Caspersen Falla.
– There are statements from the management that you might have been able to do without. These are statements in the media that we would like to be without. I feel a little sorry for the team. I am one of the oldest, have been with for a long time and achieved a lot. There are many talented girls who run every day to get better at skiing. I think they deserve people to believe in them.
After eighth place in the sprint relay, the Norwegian veteran also criticizes the recharging before the Olympics.
– I do not feel well enough prepared. I do not think the preparations have been good enough. There is a lot that could have been done differently.
“Done all we can”
Ragnhild Haga has also criticized the national team management and said that they did not have a clear plan. However, Falla does not think that everything is bad.
– I have confidence in the management, it is not completely pitch black. It is portrayed worse than it is in the media. We have many great leaders, coaches and a good environment. I will not paint everything black, but I think the statements that have been in the media have been unnecessary, she says.
Even on the men’s side, there has been a storm after Emil Iversen went out and directed harsh criticism at the management.
– There has been a debate in the Norwegian media about several different things, which I think is not the most positive for us and I hope that the riders have managed to focus on themselves before the races, which can be difficult in such situations, says Johannes Hösflot Kläbo after the gold in the sprint relay.
Do you have confidence in the leadership right now?
– Yes, I think we have all done what we can to prepare for the races, but there is a lot of pressure in an Olympics. There is already a lot of pressure on us and it is more difficult to handle the pressure in such circumstances. But I have not thought much about it to be honest.
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