"It's not about being the best, it's about trying your best."

A participation at Olympic Winter Games is the major goal for most professional athletes. But as thrilling being selected to represent your country may be, the pressure to perform rises equally. A lifetime of preparation and dedication to the sport comes down to one moment. Only themselves know the incredible effort it has taken them to be standing at the start line of Olympic Winter Games.

Emil Iversen has been selected to the Norwegian Cross-Country team for his second Olympic Winter Games. The 30 year-old will is part of one of the strongest teams on course. However, the story of how Emil became one of Norways elite Cross-Country skiers includes many Up's and Down's.

How does a child who finishes last in a competition keeps the joy to go back to the start line? Emil's story is important to share as one pivotal part of the success of any athlete is the support system behind him and the messages that are shared: "It's not about being the best, it's about trying your best."

FIS Cross-Country: Emil, how did you grow up?

Emil Iversen: "I like to say that I was born in a pulk, as my mom and dad love the outdoors and took us along right from the start. Growing up in Maråker, we have always been outside grew up surrounded by one of the finest and most beautiful nature areas of the world. We went on camping trips, fishing and spent a lot of time in our cabin and on skis. This is the lifestyle I grew up with and my mother and father taught me the love for the sport. We never talked about becoming the best skier but when I got older I got better and better in skiing, I got more interested in working to become better."

FIS Cross-Country: What were your interests and hobbies growing up?

Emil Iversen: "I liked to do so many things when I was young and my parents never put pressure on me to follow only one thing. The love and the passion, if you really want to be good at something, you need to feel it from inside. That is what my mom and dad learned me."

FIS Cross-Country: How would you describe yourself as a child?

Emil Iversen: "I have two sides. I could be outside all the time, making jumps in the snow around the house, spend hours on the sleigh riding down the roads but I could also just be inside, sit on the sofa, watch TV and eat Pizza, as I always had a love for unhealthy food. It was tough on my mother because if I could have decided myself, I would probably only have sat inside, drink Coke and eat unhealthy stuff. So I am really grateful for my mom that she made me eat healthy food."

"I think it is important for parents to take the time to teach kids what is good for them and what not. By now I am the same as my mom, trying to teach my brothers what is healthy and what not."

FIS Cross-Country: You found your passion for skiing and started racing in your sports club. How do you remember that time?

Emil Iversen: "I had some bad years from when I was like 12 to 15 years old. I was a bit heavy and it took some years before I grew in length. So I ended up at the bottom of the result list and that was not fun. I think at the worst times, my brother who is two years younger beat me in the races.

But I remember that every time, we had a race from the sports club, after the race we would go back to the cabin of the club and we got waffles and something to drink. Then my parents would come up, give me a hug and said that they knew I gave it all I got out there. Our coaches and other people from the ski club were also proud of us when they knew that we gave the best we could that day. Having people around me to cheer me up and who cared and respected me, even if I lost, meant a lot to me. If you are in your teenage years, many things change for your physically and mentally. It is therefore even more important that you know for yourself that you tried your very best today.

After I turned 15, my body changed again and I got better. I started to receive some prizes to participate at races and then a little later for my results. That motivated me and the training got more fun and easy."

FIS Cross-Country: What was the motivation for you to follow sports as a professional career?

Emil Iversen: "When I was 16 years old, I decided for myself that I wanted to try my best to become as a good skier that I can be because I knew I had some great qualities. And every year, I became better. That is what I love most about doing sports. I learn what I do good and where I can become better and then work with that.

Until my 20ies, I did not win anything big but I improved personally and that is what motivated me. And now I am on the level when I can train to actually win something – that has not always been the case for me."

FIS Cross-Country: What are you most proud of?

Emil Iversen: "I am proud of my story. Not everyone is born with the same talents and most need to put in extra work to keep up. I try to tell my story as often as I can because I really have been on the other end from the ranking list and made my way to the top."

FIS Cross-Country: What kind of athlete are you now?

Emil Iversen: "I try to balance my life as a professional skier with other, more normal things and not to have everything in my life being focussed around skiing. I try to speak openly about things I believe in and share my opinion. I am proud of where I am today."

Interview with Emil Iversen, December 2021