The situation for the Norwegians is certainly difficult. They have 6 biathletes in the top 7 overall, and Olav Botn also opens the door to the national team. Someone has to leave.
And the Norwegians still decided and didn't take a conservative approach to choosing the squad, as they did last year.
They probably looked at Philipp Horn, whom Olav Botn regularly raced at the IBU Cup, and who immediately took 4th place in the sprint at the World Cup, and thought that he would definitely be no worse than Vetle.
Olaf Botn, judging by his results at the IBU Cup, cannot even be compared with anyone. This is a kind of Miriam Gossner from 2015, or AnaMarija Lampich in her first biathlon race at the World Cup (Sprint, 3 misses, 5th place). In the last mass start of the IBU Cup, Botn took 3rd place with 6 penalties, 14 seconds behind the winner.
Another dropout, Vebjorn Sorum, is in 15th place for only one reason: he missed the sprint and pursuit. In the mass start, he had the last chance to gain a foothold in the team, for this he had to at least come to the podium, and better yet win. But, alas. Sorum came to the last shooting in the top four, but missed twice.
It's incredibly crazy, but it's reality. Who will be the finisher for the Norwegians, and how will we manage without it?
