Norwegian newspaper VG reported this week that national team skier Vibeke Skofterud (24) weight in periods are fluctuating up to levels that affects her performance. She is now getting help from the Olympic committee.
– Vibeke is struggling with a fluctuating weight. It’s affecting her performance. She needs help to deal with this, says national team coach Svein Tore Samdal.
Norwegian Olympic Committee expert, and professor at the Norwegian Sport College of Oslo, Jorunn Sundgot Borgen will help Skofterud with her weight.
– I’m a relatively heavy skier. My weight increased when I got injured last winter. That was not ideal. The increased weight, combined with injuries and illness, were the reasons for my poor performances after Christmas, says Skofterud.
She contacted Olympic Committee at the end of the season.
– I feel that it’s dangerous to deal with this on my own. It would be dumb to not utilize the help I can get, says Skofterud. She doesn’t want to discuss the details, but says it’s a long-term project involving finding the ideal body-mass for her body.
– Skofterud is very aware that all skiers can’t weight 45 kilo and underlines that she is trying to loose some weight in a natural way.
How has it worked so far?
– It has been very good. I’m getting positive feedback and that’s good mentally, says Vibeke.
Skofterud’s summer training has been very good following her struggles during the last half of the season. Sickness, a torn ankle tendon and a shoulder operation set her back. She is now training more than ever.
– I’m not getting less motivated by poor results. I get a chip on my shoulder and want to prove that I can better, says Skofterud
