Athlete of the Week: Magnus Krog (NOR)

It is one of an elite’s athletes most important skills: to perform well under pressure and to step up your game when it’s most important to do so. With the past weekend, Norwegian veteran Magnus Krog proved that he still has this killer quality that separates good athletes from decorated ones.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic bronze medallist was one of three names still in the running for the last spot on the Norwegian team for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld 2019 and up against impressive competition from up-and-coming Jens Lurås Oftebro, Espen Andersen and fellow veteran and legend of the sport, Magnus Moan, who won medals at each of the last seven World Championships.

But when it counted, Krog delivered. Wearing the red bib of the best skier, Krog is usually known for impressive cross-country performances. Nobody was truly expecting the two impressive jumps of 130 and 132 metres he was able to produce on his home hill, not only in Saturday’s competition but also in the PCR on the previous day.

With that kind of jumping in place, Krog suddenly turned into a hot candidate for the podium, or even the victory and even though he ultimately had to bow to overall World Cup leader Jarl Riiber, it takes nothing away from a performance as good as in Krog’s best days.

So for the 31-year-old to withstand the added pressure of competing at home for the last spot to earn championship medals is nothing short of impressive, especially given the fact that he ended a three-year dry spell to do it. A comeback like that earns him this week’s Athlete of the Week honour and we are excited to see if he can carry some of the momentum over to the rest of the season and, of course, the big championships in Seefeld.