Thea Bjoerseth Out for Season After Serious Ski Jumping Fall

Thea Minyan Bjoerseth will miss the remainder of the season, including the upcoming home World Championships, following a severe fall during a ski jumping event in Slovenia. According to team doctor Guri Ekas, Bjoerseth sustained injuries to her elbow and knee during the accident in Ljubno, and it is confirmed to be a long-term injury.

The 21-year-old is currently being treated at a hospital in Ljubljana and will continue her rehabilitation upon her return to Norway.

Team Responds to the Accident

In light of the shock from Bjoerseth’s fall, which saw her flip multiple times on Saturday, her teammates chose to withdraw from the competition on Sunday. National coach Christian Meyer stated, „We are not taking any risks before the World Championships in our own country. The accident has weighed heavily on the team and its surroundings, and we must look out for one another now.“

Bjoerseth, who is currently ranked sixth in the overall World Cup standings, had set a hill record with a jump of 97 meters in the first round. In her second attempt, she landed at 94.5 meters, which would have secured her a victory. However, due to her fall, she received significantly fewer points and finished in third place after several minutes of medical treatment.

Selina Freitag Shines

Selina Freitag took second place in the event. The athlete from Oberwiesenthal repeated her success in the second jump on Sunday, reinforcing her status as a medal contender for the World Championships in Trondheim, starting on February 26. Freitag remarked, „I know I have the jumps in me. I know how to execute them, which is already very valuable.“

The winner of both competitions was Nika Prevc, who further extended her lead in the overall World Cup standings. Katharina Schmid followed closely as the first runner-up, moving from seventh to fifth place. Schmid commented on her progress, saying, „It may not be as fast as I would like, but I am slowly working my way back up.“