He was the great idol who helped her through an incredibly difficult period. A few hours apart, both experienced the pinnacle of their careers.
First, Emilie Fleten won the Vasaloppet, then Pål Golberg became world champion in the five thousand and considering what happened 12 years ago, it appears as an incredible “double victory”.
32-year-old Golberg has fought for a long time for his great triumph, but the road to Fleten’s first long-distance victory has been longer than for most.
– That it happens in the Vasaloppet makes it twice as big, says 30-year-old Fleten to VG.
She just didn’t manage to catch the sprint in the five thousand, but was incredibly happy when she heard about Golberg’s victory.
– It is not just because we come from the same place, we are not close friends, but we have followed each other and he is an incredibly good person. I must admit I cried when he took silver in the sprint, says Fleten. Golberg went home with three golds and one silver.
Both Golberg and Fleten come from Gol. Although they are not close friends, they share a strong history. The two were at the same joint training in the cross-country team in Gol IL. Golberg, two years older, was a role model for Fleten.
– I kind of looked up to him and knew he had a clue, she has told VG earlier.
A year and a half ago, Emilie Fleten (30) and Pål Golberg (32) met in connection with a VG report, at Golberg’s home in Kjelsås in Oslo. For the first time, they talked about the message Golberg gave to 19-year-old Fleten: It was short, but made a very strong impression on her.
Read here about the meeting between Golberg and Fleten in 2021.
It was late summer 2011. When Golberg saw Fleten, he immediately realized that something was wrong.
– There is something about … when you see that a person you know has taken on a completely different appearance. A completely different body. And a different expression on his face, he told VG when the two met ten years later.
Because Fleten struggled with eating disorders. She lived in denial for a long time, but received an eye-opener when Golberg gave notice.
Golberg spoke to her father, who was Fleten’s coach in her youth, who in turn contacted her mother. She went on to tell her daughter what Golberg had said.
It gave her a jolt. Her idol Pål Golberg thought she was sick.
“If Pål thought I had a problem … Then I probably did,” she told VG.
– Pål is a nice guy. He is a very caring type. He is someone who sees people around him. For me, he has been a role model. It is important to have people like that in the environment. He is an important person. It was a small comment that meant a lot then and there. Pål never thought it would work, but it did, says Fleten on Sunday evening.
– How is your health today?
– It’s like night and day. I would say I am healthy today. Long-distance running requires strength and that you get nutrition. It is a very good environment for me to be in. Today I have a healthy and good body, she replies.
– Why do you choose to be so open?
– I know that it can be good to hear other people’s stories. You feel so lonely when you stand in it. In any case, for me, you don’t look long-term at all. You only think about the here and now and the next meal. You don’t see that you are about to drive your body into a slump, she says.
And now the first long-distance victory has added flavor.
– I certainly do not feel that I have completed the game. At least I’ll have another season. I think it’s been incredibly cool. The plan is anyway. The aim is to take steps then, to be more stable and take more victories. There are still many races I haven’t won, concludes Fleten.
- Do you suspect that you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder? Call 22 94 00 10, the information and crisis telephone of the Eating Disorders Association.
