Oftebro aims to win fourth gold and equal hero Graabak’s record

As Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro looks to defend his Team Sprint title from Beijing 2022, he will also be in line to win his fourth Winter Olympic Games gold and equal his hero Joergen Graabak’s (NOR) Nordic Combined record.

Having won golds in both the Individual Gundersen Normal Hill and Large Hill events, Oftebro will now pair with Andreas Skoglund, who placed just outside of the medals in fourth in the Gundersen Large Hill, to go for the last gold of the Nordic Combined events at Milano Cortina 2026.

“It’s special to win again,” Oftebro said after winning gold in the Large Hill. “Joergen is really good in the Olympics and to be one of those as well is pretty nice.”

“It’s been a lot of golds to Jarl Magnus [Riiber, NOR), especially in the last years, and also Joergen in the Olympics, so to finally be the Norwegian winning is very special and it means a lot.”

Oftebro’s final attack in the Gundersen Large Hill has been compared to the greatest Cross-Country skier of all time, compatriot Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who made an incredible uphill push in the Men’s Sprint Classic last week, which Austrian rival Johannes Lamparter saw firsthand.

“From behind I can definitely agree,” said double Olympic silver medalist Lamparter. “It was really impressive how fast it was and his gold medal is well deserved. I need to work on doing the same over the next few years.” 

Lamparter will have a good chance at a medal alongside Stefan Rettenegger, who came fourth in the Gundersen Normal Hill. Finland’s Ilkka Herola, who win bronze in the Gundersen Large Hill will be partnered with Olympic bronze medalist from the Gundersen Normal Hill, Eero Hirvonen.

“Of course there is a chance,” said Herola. “We both know our performances are enough on a normal level to compete with the other teams.

“We can be relaxed and do the same things we’ve been doing. I will certainly enjoy it. It will be a great day. A team medal is something missing for both of us. That would be a crown for this Olympics.”

Germany will also be strong contenders, with double Olympic gold medalists Johannes Rydzek and Vinzenz Geiger teaming up. Rydzek and Geiger won gold in the Team 4 x 5km at PyeongChang 2018 and will be hoping the Team Sprint will offer their first podium at Milano Cortina as both athletes just made the top 10 in the individual events.

They both also have Olympic golds in individual events from the past two Winter Games and have been showing good form having made the podiums at recent World Cup events.

For the Nordic Combined Team Sprint start list click here.