Helene Marie Fossesholm made a dream comeback in Friday’s 10-kilometer race in Lillehammer, her first World Cup event since 2023.

The 23-year-old, who was cut from the national team in April, had a dream run with an impressive eighth place in her first World Cup race in nearly two years—just three months after a knee injury that could have ended her season before it began.

“It feels absolutely fantastic. It’s been a long road to get here, with a lot of hard work and boring training. But it’s so rewarding to see it pay off. It means so much to perform well today, especially after three difficult years and this injury. It’s been a long journey,” Fossesholm told ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langrenn.com.

Her last World Cup appearance was in Les Rousses, France, in January 2023, where she finished 15th in the same event.

After Friday’s stellar performance, Fossesholm rushed over to Swedish rival Ebba Andersson to give her a big hug—one of the first things she did after crossing the finish line.

Fossesholm was quick to highlight Andersson as a key supporter during her tough recovery. Andersson had offered advice and support throughout the challenging period.

“It means so much that she cares about me in this way and wants to share her experiences. It’s been a huge motivator,” Fossesholm said.

“Ebba sent me a message the week after I got injured. She’s had knee issues before and faced a similar injury. She gave me tips on what exercises to do, what’s good training, and it’s been amazing to have someone to spar with. She’s truly genuine.”

From Injury Nightmare to Dream Comeback

In early September, Fossesholm experienced every athlete’s nightmare when she dislocated her kneecap during a soccer match with sponsors. The injury put her entire season in jeopardy.

At best, she faced six weeks on crutches, but at worst, surgery seemed inevitable. For almost two months, she trained alternately but ultimately avoided surgery.

She missed the season opener in Beitostølen but debuted last weekend in the Norwegian Cup at Gålå, winning the 10-kilometer freestyle and placing second in the 10-kilometer classic. These results earned her a free spot in both distance races at this weekend’s World Cup in Lillehammer.

Fossesholm responded with her best World Cup finish in three years. Her previous top result was a fourth place in December 2021 in the same event at the same venue.

A Fresh Start

After being cut from the national team in April following three difficult seasons, Fossesholm saw it as an opportunity for a reset rather than a setback. Now, she has turned things around, rediscovering her spark and joy.

“It’s just me and Dad now. We’re the ‘dream team,’” said Fossesholm.

Read more: “Now I train more like Maiken”

Training Smarter

Fossesholm joined the elite national team at 18 and experienced immediate success, including strong World Cup performances, a World Championship relay gold, and top-10 individual finishes at the 2021 Oberstdorf World Championships. Her first Olympics, however, did not go as planned.

Reflecting on her early struggles, she admitted, “I trained too much my first year on the national team.”

Now, she trains less but maintains a consistent workload week-to-week.

“I train less and more evenly instead of with heavy periodization. I prefer a steady volume rather than high peaks that take a lot out of you, even if you cut back the following week. With consistent training, I have much more control.”