"I believe the Mixed Team will be great!"

The Norwegian women’s team's number one had a fantastic winter that produced a silver medal at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Lahti, the second place in the COC overall and nine podium positions. For TUESDAY TALK, the 17-year-old looked back on her successes and forward to the summer and her plans for the winter.

How happy are you looking back on the season?

Gyda Westvold Hansen: Yes, the last winter was above all my expectations! It is great that we women now finally get to compete on a higher level.

You won the silver medal in the first-ever Nordic Combined medal event for ladies, a historic achievement. Are you proud that you were a part of this big moment?

Westvold Hansen: I am very proud to have been a part of this moment. I had the goal to do well in this competition before the season but I didn’t expect it to go this well. This was just amazing!

With Tara Geraghty-Moats, you have a pretty strong opponent when it comes to making the top step of the podium. Is it motivating to you to have someone who set the bar on a high level to compete with?

Westvold Hansen: It is fantastic to see Tara’s level, especially in the cross-country track in the winter. She was just amazing. Of course this gives you a lot of motivation to see someone who is better than yourself and who shows such a high level of performance. Now it’s just about continuing with my training and I hope I can get near her level one day.

What are your goals for the next winter?

Westvold Hansen: My biggest goal for the next winter is simply to become a better ski jumper and cross-country skier. I also hope to be in good shape for the Junior World Championships and the Youth Olympic Games.

The FIS Summer Grand Prix for ladies has grown considerably and features three venues this summer and possibly also the first-ever Mixed Team Event. Do you already know if you will be participating and do you look forward to it?

Westvold Hansen: It will be very exciting to have more events and I believe especially the Mixed Team event will be great. Of course I hope to be a part of that but I will have to qualify for it first.

With the month of May, the training season has started again. How does you everyday life look like at the moment?

Westvold Hansen: Yes, I am back in training and already looking forward to the winter very much. My everyday lives is pretty simple these days: training, sleeping and a bit of school. (laughs)