Bjoerseth and Granerud to miss home World Championships

The Norwegian Ski Federation has confirmed that two of their highest-profile athletes – Olympians Thea Minyan Bjoerseth and Halvor Egner Granerud – will miss their home World Championships, Trondheim 2025, after suffering season-ending injuries.

Bjoerseth endured what was described as a ‘nasty crash’ while chasing victory in the Ljubno World Cup in Slovenia on 15 February and after receiving treatment on the hill was taken to hospital in the nation’s capital, Ljubljana, for further assessments.

Now back in her homeland, the 21-year-old confirmed in a social media post she has sustained a number of knee ligament tears, as well as an elbow dislocation and that rehabilitation is likely keep her side-lined from the sport for over a year.

Granerud, a six-time World Championship medalist, succumbed to medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage during training on Wednesday and he too will require surgery.

"It is always very unfortunate when injuries occur, especially right before a World Championship,” says Norway’s Ski Jumping sports director Jan-Erik Aalbu.

“It is sad to hear that Thea will be out of action for so long, but the national ski jumping team will do everything to take care of Thea during a difficult period. 

Aalbu continued; “We will now (also) do everything we can to support Halvor on his way back to the jumping hill.”

Granerud’s replacement in the Norwegian men’s team line-up will be confirmed after this weekend’s FIS Continental Cup competition in Iron Mountain (USA).

Bjoerseth vows to return ‘stronger’ after crash ends her 2025 campaign

The ski jumping world looked on anxiously in the moments after Bjoerseth’s awkward second round landing in Ljubno, which remarkably still attain her enough points to finish third in the event.

That though was of little consolation to the athlete who was unable to take part in the podium celebrations and was soon exiting the venue via ambulance.

“From what could have been one of my best achievements so far in my career, to the toughest challanges I’ll face so far,” she wrote on Instagram, adding the situation “sucks.”

“During my fall in Ljubno I tore my ACL, PCL and MCL… My arm took the fall and the elbow got dislocated. Some other injuries in the arm were also discovered.

“This is a hard pill to swallow especially with the World Championships coming up on home soil that I won’t be able to be a part of.”

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympian, who made her World Cup debut in 2020, has enjoyed something of a breakthrough season, securing podium finishes for the first time in her career in the FIS’ top-tier event.

Norway’s national team doctor, Guri Ekås, revealed that Bjoerseth will undergo surgery on her left knee next week and that it is expected rehabilitation will take “over a year” as she goes through mobility, strength and stability training before returning to competition.

“I don’t know when I will be back, but I have understood it will take time,” continues Bjoerseth. “I’m gonna do everything I can to come back strong.” 

Team-mates and fellow competitors from other nations have since posted messages of support since the ski jumper revealed the extent of her injuries, with Eva Pinkelnig (AUT), Selina Freitag (GER) and Silje Opseth (NOR) among those to express compassion.

Granerud rues ‘clumsy’ fall which ends Trondheim dream

28-year-old Granerud is a two-time Crystal Globe winner and one of the most decorated athletes on the men’s tour with 25 individual World Cup victories to his name.

Although he is without a podium finish since April 2023, he has shown improved form at recent contests and was expected to form a strong part of the Norwegian men’s team, who are seeking success on the home hill. 

However, the MCL ligament detachment, after an accident during Norway’s World Championship preparation camp in Lillehammer (NOR) will likely now keep him away from the sport for a prolonged period.

“It is very painful to miss the opportunity to compete at a home World Championships,” Granerud admits.

“This is something I have been looking forward to since Trondheim was awarded the championship, and something I have thought about every day for several years. 

“The fall was clumsy, and unfortunately, I ran out of talent to save it.

The 2020 Ski Flying Team World champion concluded by saying; “Moving forward, I am looking forward to following my teammates and the other Norwegian athletes in the championships.”