Norwegian cross-county star Bjoergen aims for gold

Feb 16, 2009, 4:54 GMT

Oslo - Norwegian cross-country ski star Marit Bjoergen is aiming for at least one medal, a gold, at the world championships in the Czech resort of Liberec.

'A gold is what counts highest for me. One top achievement is more important than four good placings,' Bjoergen recently told the Adresseavisen newspaper published in Trondheim where she was born.

High-altitude training in Italy were part of Bjoergen's plan to peak her form for the world championships.

During previous seasons, the 28-year-old skier has often started the season brilliantly, with mixed results then following when it really mattered.

Formerly a sprint specialist with a first world title in 2003, Bjoergen established herself as an all-rounder at the 2005 worlds with gold medals in the team sprint, relay and 30km, plus pursuit silver and 10km bronze.

The same year she also won the first of two overall World Cup titles, the sprint and distance World Cup, and was voted Norway's best athlete by the Norwegian sports writers association.

But she neither managed a title at the 2006 Olympics and 2007 worlds, and has not won a World Cup race since December 2007.

Bjoergen had three podium finishes at the Norwegian championships in mid-January, but failed to win an event, with sprint world champion Astrid Jacobsen on top in several events in a stunning return to form from Achilles tendon problems.

The expectations in Jacobsen may give Bjoergen further motivation and reduce some of the pressure on her. She also draws support from her partner, two-time Olympic gold medallist Fred Boerre Lundberg, a former dominant force in the Nordic combined event.

Bjoergen is known not to spare herself during training and her tough regime has been questioned, not the least a year ago when her season was spoiled by a series of infections.

The week-long training session in the Italian Dolomites is aimed to buck the trend.

'We have to try to slow her down in terms of intensity,' Norwegian team doctor Hans Petter Stokke told Norwegian media a few days into the session. 'Marit would, with some overstatement, like to compete every day.'

Bjoergen's best title chances in Liberec are likely in the 10-kilometre classic style race and in the pursuit. Coach Egil Kristiansen said that she won't compete in every race at the worlds.