When Harald Østberg Amundsen returned from his first Olympics with a fourth, a sixth and a 14th place, he didn’t hide his disappointment: It wasn’t what he aimed for. He came to the Games run-down and tired, and returned sick – and without medals.
Madshus checked in with the 27-year-old at the start of the leadup to the next season, where the 2027 Nordic World Championships in Falun, Sweden, in February is his main goal.
“Unfortunately, the Olympics didn’t go as I had hoped, and it was a big setback for me compared to the goals I had set,” says Amundsen, and dives in:
“Mentally, it was one of the toughest periods of my career so far. It took time to accept that my body wasn’t where it should be when I arrived at the Olympics, and to realize that the Games came a bit too soon after being sick. And since the Olympics only happen every four years, that made it even harder to deal with.”
You’ve had to talk about this many times, and you’ve been open about the Olympics not going the way you wanted. Do you regret anything you did?
“It’s hard to say that anything I did leading up to the Olympics was wrong, because illness can show up no matter how careful you are. I followed my training plan after the Tour de Ski, with heavy training at home in Sjusjøen before a World Cup race week in Goms, Switzerland. These races were part of my peaking plan for the Olympics, before traveling to a pre-camp in Italy,” Amundsen says, and continues.
“Tough racing and travel during a peaking period can leave the body more vulnerable to illness. Unfortunately, I think I picked up a bug in Goms after racing hard at altitude.”
As a result, Amundsen arrived at the Olympics in Italy in less-than-ideal shape.
“Even though I felt okay going into my first Olympic race, I had barely done any interval training. I felt good in that first race, but later in the race I fell and was unable to fight for a medal. The problem was that my body didn’t recover properly after the hard races at the Olympics, and that affected me the whole way through.
Despite how things turned out in Italy, Amundsen still doesn’t blame his plan.
“In hindsight, I probably wouldn’t change the training plan, because I was doing what I believed was best for my Olympic preparation. The issue wasn’t the plan, but that the illness I ended up getting after the Goms races was more than just a mild cold, and my body never fully recovered before the start of the Games.”
Needed a “Hard reboot”
After the Olympics, Amundsen needed to withdraw from the limelight, reflect and reboot.
“I kind of shut down a bit for a period during and right after the Olympics, but luckily there are always new races and new goals,” Amundsen says.
When he came back, his attitude and mindset were in a much better place.
“I wanted to finish the season in the best possible way, and overall, my World Cup season was still very good. There were a lot of positive experiences, even though the Olympics weren’t one of them,” says Amundsen, who is now looking ahead to the 2027 World Championships in Falun, Sweden.
“Having strong races in Falun, Drammen, Holmenkollen, and Lake Placid in March helped a lot, and motivated me going into the next season. I feel like I’ve moved past the disappointment, and I’m hoping to bounce back at the next championships.”
Giving back to young talents
Sharing is one thing the now seasoned 27-year-old cares deeply about and says brings him energy and motivation.
Amundsen has shared personal sponsorships with the rest of the national team, he likes to share his knowledge and experiences, and he even shares his own money.
When Amundsen won Tour de Ski and the overall World Cup in 2024, he used part of his prize money to establish HØAnton-stipendet, an endowment that awards mentorship and training stipends to young, aspiring skiers.
You’re known for being generous with your time, and for sharing your resources and experience with up-and-coming racers. How important is that for you, and why?
“I care a lot about sharing the experience I’ve gained with younger athletes coming up. The HØAnton-scholarship is also an important way to support young and promising skiers on their way toward success.”
Amundsen explains that being able to give back feels incredibly rewarding to him – in a way like coming full circle.
“I’ve been new to the World Cup and championship level myself, and I know how important it can be when more experienced athletes share advice and small details with those coming up. There’s a lot of pressure in elite sports and learning how to handle that well is important,” Amundsen says.
“Competing at the highest level and having good experiences is honestly one of the coolest things you can do in life. That’s why I want to inspire others.”
Finally: you’ve been on Madshus for a decade. What has it meant to you to stay with one ski brand throughout your career?
“It has meant a huge amount to me to have the support I’ve gotten from Madshus. Many years with top-level racing service and support on equipment. It started when I was competing in Nordic championships at 17–18 years old, and since then I’ve gone through Junior World Championships, U23 Worlds, the regular World Championships, and the Olympics with the best support I could ask for,” Amundsen says.
“Having a strong team around you means everything in elite sport. Good collaboration, communication, and trust have helped me constantly improve my ski setup and performance. It also makes it easier to adjust things quickly when needed.”