Sprintstar Ella Gjomle Is Struggling After On-Snow Crash

FasterSkierMay 6, 2005

Source: Langrenn.com

The day before the Norwegian national 30-kilometer championship one month ago, national team skier Ella Gjomle crashed in a downhill. She is still struggling with the injuries.

Ella Gjomle was skiing the 30-kilometer course at Lillehammer the day before the race, when one ski pulled out to the side in a steep downhill. Fast conditions and high speed made for a bloody, hard and brutal crash. The next day’s 30-kilometer was out of the question, since it was tough to even walk. A good season ended in a downhill at Lillehammer. More than a month has passed, but Ella is still bothered by the accident.

— I tore some muscle fibers in my hamstring, says Ella

It’s especially hard when she attempts to run.

– My leg is sort of collapsing when I try to run. That’s too bad, since I had planned to race the Raskinnet cross-country running race this weekend and the Holmenkollen running relay in Oslo next weekend.

Her doctor hopes that she will at the very best be recovered by the middle of May, six weeks after the accident.

April is not the worst month to be injured for a cross country skier. It’s a typical rest, recovery and gradually start up month anyway and Ella has gotten plenty of time to reflect on the past season, where she got to visit the World Cup podium both in an individual race and in a relay.

– I’m pleased with my results, especially in the sprint races, but I need to improve in the distance events.

She is however not considering specializing in sprint. The Olympics is coming up and the classic sprint relay, which in reality is something between a sprint and a distance event is one of Ella’s goals. She needs to improve in order to accomplish that.

– I need to get stronger.

She is therefore looking at what super strong Marit Bjorgen is doing in the weight room. —
-I’m using the same training principles as Marit, but I’m responding slower than her and it’s taking me more time to improve.

FasterSkier

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