Earlier this week, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg spoke about her challenges with weight, body, and energy balance. For the first time, she discussed her struggles with eating disorders, admitting that she has suffered at times. She also expressed her disappointment that her dream of competing at the World Championships on home soil is now hanging by a very thin thread. She has not even submitted a health certificate to the Ski Federation. There is a lot that must be in place before it can be approved.

Read more: Flugstad Østberg stopped by doctors – Misses season opener

Flugstad Østberg is now receiving immense support from the community, especially from former national teammates.

“I am very sad on behalf of Ingvild. I would have loved to see her at the starting line. But all in all, that’s obviously not the most important thing right now. Those of us who care about Ingvild have hoped that things would go in the right direction,” says Marit Bjørgen (44) to VG.

Bjørgen and Flugstad Østberg won Olympic gold together in the team sprint in 2014.

Ragnhild Gløersen Haga, who claimed Olympic relay gold in 2018 alongside Flugstad Østberg, Bjørgen, and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, also expresses her support for her former teammate.

“I wish Ingvild all the best, both in sports and in her private life. When it comes to health and athletics, I believe she and all other athletes should be free to share as much or as little as they want with the public,” says Ragnhild Haga.

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Ingvild Flugstad Østberg was part of the relay team that won gold at the World Championships in Planica 2023. It is unlikely she will compete for Norway in the relay at the home World Championships in Trondheim.

The Gjøvik native, who turns 34 on Saturday, lost her national team spot last spring. This is the second time she has been dropped due to ongoing health problems. She chose to continue with a private training setup this year. She hasn’t competed in any ski races since March 2023 and didn’t race at all last winter. It doesn’t seem likely that she will race anytime soon, certainly not before Christmas.

Ingvild Flugstad Østberg is not the only high-profile cross-country skier who has faced challenges with food and weight. American Jessie Diggins has been open about her eating disorder, detailing her struggles in an extensive interview with Langrenn.com earlier this fall.

Read the exclusive interviews: Breaking the Silence: Jessie Diggins Opens Up & Breaking the Silence: Jessie Diggins – Part 2

Therese Johaug and Sweden’s cross-country queen Charlotte Kalla have also shared their struggles with food and weight after retiring.

Now, Johaug and several former ski stars are drawing attention to what has been “an elephant in the room” and a long-standing issue in sports culture.

They are being heard: The government is now allocating 15 million kroner to the Norwegian Sports Federation’s committee tasked with tackling eating disorders and body pressure in sports. The committee was established in 2023, with Therese Johaug serving as the athlete representative.