Norway’s Karoline Knotten revealed a year of internal struggle following her team’s bronze medal win in the women’s biathlon 4x6km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, February 18th. The Norwegian team finished behind Sweden, who took silver, and the winning French team.
Knotten, 31, described feeling “a lot of pain” after the race, stemming from a difficult year that included being dropped from the national team and contemplating retirement. “I have held a lot inside. I didn’t want to ruin it any further or make it any harder to be here, but there is absolutely a lot that feels painful,” Knotten told VG, a Norwegian news outlet.
The biathlete’s struggles began last summer when she considered ending her career and publicly criticized the Norwegian Ski Association (NSSFN). At the time, she dismissed the decision to exclude her from the national team as “bullshit.” Knotten credited team doctor Aasne Fenne Hoksrud with helping her navigate the conflict. “It’s special to have Aasne… who has really been there for me and stopped me from hating everything that is NSSFN,” she said.
Knotten shared that she had repeatedly considered quitting but ultimately remained committed to achieving her full potential. “I have threatened to quit quite a few times, but of course I don’t want to, because I have a dream of becoming as good as I can be,” she explained. She described feeling isolated and “on the sidelines” throughout the year.
Marthe Kråkstad Johansen, who opened the relay for Norway, emphasized the importance of the team’s achievement. “Yes, it’s a team victory. We managed to combine our best qualities today and take a bronze medal. We have been working towards this all winter, so to succeed is huge,” she said.
Maren Kirkeeide, the only member of the Norwegian team with a prior Olympic medal, admitted to feeling nervous before her leg of the race. “I’ve actually been quite calm earlier today, but I felt it when I came up and started getting ready right before I was going to travel,” she told NRK, another Norwegian news outlet. She acknowledged the significance of the team’s success, stating, “It means a lot. It’s extra nice to do well as a team, and we’ll take that with us.”
Kirkeeide faced a strong challenge from Sweden’s Elvira Öberg during her leg, stating she “had little to respond with” against the Swedish biathlete. France secured the gold medal, leaving Norway to compete with Sweden for silver, ultimately resulting in a bronze finish for the Norwegian team.
NRK’s biathlon expert, Tarjei Bø, commented on the final leg, expressing disappointment that the race concluded without a direct head-to-head battle between Norway and Sweden for the silver medal. “It’s going to be a boring final lap. I was looking forward to a Norwegian-Swedish duel with a sprint, but it looks like the medals have been decided,” Bø said.