Problems surfaced again on Terrell Eckhoff

The start of the biathlon season is fast approaching, but whether he will be with Terrell Eckhoff at the starting line looks increasingly uncertain.

The 31-year-old spoke candidly about the crisis of her life in the past six months in an interview with TV 2 at the beginning of September, but she was well on her way to recovery and was looking forward to her October meeting in World Cup City. Oberhof with her teammates.

But now this group can also be broken.

– we will see. The hope was that she would join Oberhof, but if she is unsure and we in the coaching staff are unsure, we may find that she needs more time to herself. To focus on his personal development, coach Patrick Oberger says.

Not listed in Oslo

The 31-year-old trained alone in Oslo for most of the summer and fall. She still did not participate in gatherings with her teammates.

This week, the women’s team gathered in Oslo, in Eckhoff’s closest neighborhood. But so far she shines in her absence.

Why isn’t she with you?

We have to do a good training with Terrell. She’s training, some days it’s a little better, some days it’s a little worse. But both the Norwegian Ski Federation and we on the coaching staff support Terrell. She can and should take the time she needs. Oberger says she’s deciding when she wants to join us again.

Doesn’t she feel ready to train with the team?

– No, now she should focus on herself and her development.

– What can you say about Terrell’s development lately?

There was great progress for a while, then there were more misfortunes. At least she is in training and people close to her are following her. Now it’s not just the sport that counts, but that Terrell is doing well in his normal life. Sports are just a part of it. You should have a good life, and that’s the most important thing for us right now, says Oberegger.

Eckhoff answers in one word when TV2 sends a text asking how things are going:

– Fox.

The stars are missing

On Thursday, the girls’ biathlon trained at Fossum, the club where Eckhoff and Ingrid Landmark Tandrifold have spent countless hours training throughout their careers.

This is how Tandevold responds to questions about whether it was weird being together in Oslo without Eckhoff being part of the gang.

– It’s a decision you made based on how you felt. At least we’re four girls here, that’s the plan to start with. Those who can join these home gatherings.

Also, Marte Olsbu Røiseland is not located in Oslo. Last season’s top female athlete, like Eckhoff, didn’t have much time with her teammates in the lead up to it.

She is now in Ruhpolding and training on her own, the same place where her husband, Sverre Olsbu Røiseland, works as a coach for the German Women’s Biathlon.

According to plan, Røiseland will join the rest of the squad during the Oberhof meeting in just under two weeks, while Eckhoff’s participation is therefore uncertain.

Unable to contribute

At the beginning of September, Eckhoff responded as follows when TV2 asked if she had enough with herself during the day, or if she missed gatherings with her teammates:

– You can’t give to a team if you don’t feel well, I think it’s the same for everyone. You are unable to contribute to a social environment. For me, it is important to prioritize myself now.

Coach Oberger says there is no confirmation that Roseland and Eckhoff should be fit for the World Cup opening match in Kontiolahti at the end of November.

– A lot could happen until then. Athletes like Mart and Terrell, who are facing a lot of adversity now, get a lot of training in the bank. It is better to be on the safe side than to take a risk. Perhaps it would be better for some to win the World Cup in Oberhof in February, four months away. He says: We will take our time.