Jørgen Graabak: Broken bones and medal dreams
Jan 09, 2025·Nordic Combined)
Two-time Olympic champion Jørgen Graabak remains a cornerstone of the Norwegian Nordic Combined team. Following a strong fourth-place finish in the 2023/24 Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup, he entered the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championship season as a clear medal contender.
However, his journey took an unexpected turn with a series of setbacks, including four broken bones, leaving his preseason preparation far from ideal.
In an exclusive interview with FIS, the 33-year-old from Trondheim shares how he stays motivated despite adversity, the unique strengths that set him apart from his competitors, and why sometimes being the underdog can work to your advantage.
After a highly successful 2023/24 season, you mentioned facing challenges during the summer due to injuries. Could you elaborate on the nature of those injuries and share how you are feeling now in terms of recovery?
This is a long story!
It all started May 1st, during my first training session of the summer. I was unlucky and caught a rock in the wheel of my roller ski, crashed, and broke my elbow & arm.
This led to an eight-week recovery period, where I had some complications after about 5 weeks. My hand was still really swollen, and after further CT scans, it turned out I still had a 1 cm rock inside my elbow that caused the swelling.
One week after I was back from injury number one, I was out running, and had another accident. I tripped and fell. By pure reflex, I did not “catch the fall” in a normal way, but initiatively avoided to use my broken arm. This resulted in a broken shoulder/collar bone. This led to another seven-week break…
After these weeks passed, I was back. Or so I thought, before I broke my rib.
So, that was basically my summer and fall.
I have tried to make the best of the situation, and have used all my knowledge and experience to find creative solutions to get my training done.
I must say I am happy with the work I have done given the circumstances, but of course it only gets you so far. While others are frustrated with the calendar and lack of World Cup competitions. I am happy that I have some possibilities to train during the winter.
What a story! But with several top-10 finishes in the opening World Cups, including a season-best 5th place in Ramsau, it seems your recovery is progressing well. Would you agree that things are on track, and how satisfied are you with your current form?
I have had a stable and decent start to the season indeed. However, I feel my performances have not been at the level I want to be at during the championships in March. Don’t get me wrong. Given the injuries, my results have been really good. But as I have not changed my goal for the season, I also have to see my performance in that light. I actually think I have been a bit lucky to “get away” with a lot of decent results so far this season.
During the extended Christmas break, what specific aspects of your training have you prioritized to prepare for the upcoming competitions?
I have mainly focused on specific work. As I have not been able to jump much due to my injuries, that’s where I feel I have needed to but in the effort. Basic indoor training is one thing, but to handle the radius in a jumping hill with 90+ km/h is something you need to keep a bit fresh.
We are now heading into Schonach, where you achieved two podium finishes last year. Does this success provide you with additional confidence for the upcoming events?
For sure. I have always liked Schonach as a venue. Even though they often get tough conditions to work with, the organizers in Schonach somehow find a way to have great competitions with a good crowd. So that’s something I look forward to every year.
The Norwegian Federation has announced its first nominees for the World Championships, and you are among them. In the Nordic Combined documentary, you spoke about your dream of competing in the championships at home. How does it feel to see this dream become a reality?
I am of course glad to get a ticket to the championships. But I have bigger dreams than just to participate …
As both an Olympic and Team World Champion, the expectations surrounding your performance are significant. How are you managing the pressure, especially after a period of injury and recovery?
I think I have to reconcile with the fact that I will have some pressure to deal with during the championships - that is obvious. I choose to see it as an advantage. People have, with my history, faith in the fact that I will come prepared. That’s essentially what the pressure means. But I also have to be realistic! My injury record means that I have not been dealt the best set of hands going in to the last weeks before the championship.
This means that I will always be an outsider when the championships come. But who knows, maybe that’s a good position to be in.
Finally, in a highly competitive field featuring athletes like Jarl Riiber and Vinzenz Geiger, what do you consider your greatest strength that will give you an edge in the race for a medal?
We have some great athletes in the starting field at the moment, for sure. The competition for the medals will be fierce.
When in shape, I know I have a high-top level of performance both in the hill and tracks. I consider myself a good tactician and a strong finisher, and will try to use those strengths to the best of my abilities.
