The 29-year-old, who was stopped from the World Cup premiere in November after failing to meet the federation's health requirements, is selected in the Norwegian squad in the Tour de Ski. After a total evaluation of the rider's health, the assessment is that she is doing well enough to start competing again.
- The results will be what they become. The most important thing now is to feel the joy, compete again and then take it step by step, says Ingvild Flugstad Østberg to the Norwegian Confederation's site.
Damland team coach Ole Morten Iversen comments on the decision:
- Preparations for the Tour de Ski have not been optimal for Ingvild, and we do not expect her to perform at the top. But we think it can be important for her to get started in competing, to be able to perform better later in the season.
Neither Flugstad Østberg nor the Norwegian Confederation have investigated the type of health problems that the skier has had, but early on they assumed that it was the balance between training, recovery and nutrition - just like for the Swedish star Frida Karlsson, which is currently continued banned from competing after showing poor results on a health check.
Østberg won the Tour de Ski last season - just like his compatriot Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who is also in the squad. Other Norwegian length stars such as Therese Johaug, Maiken Caspersen Falla, Heidi Weng, Didrik Tønseth and Emil Iversen are also ready for the tour.