1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I was doing moto-cross, and some boys from town asked if they could drive on my track at the farm. They had a dirtbike. Cool boys, and we became friends, and they were rowers. So for me to train well during the winter, we agreed for me to train with them. a few of them were already on the National junior team. The first 2 weeks I did a PR on 500m and 2000m after every training. After 4 weeks I was faster than all of them.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
I was ordered to sit in a 4- so my club could win Nationals. Boys did not want to row 2x with me, because I was no good, that was when I was 18. We did win 4-, 4x and 8+. We were sent off to Scandinavian champs and won. Then off to JWC and missed a medal in the final, but got 6th, after rowing for 4 months!
The year after, Frank Hansen wanted me to sit in 4x for U23, so I learned how to scull. We got 2nd. Then that fall the phone rang again, and some crazy boys wanted to have me in the boat for the Olympics in Atlanta. We rowed like shit when we started out in January. But ended up 8th in the Olympics. So now I was in it!
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
One of my best memories is that when Iztok Cop and I were racing in singles we changed from rivals to best of friends. Now everybody in the single are good friends...and this is why I still row. We are a family. The rowing family.
The best race must be Beijing when nobody thought I could win, but I did it. Also, at the World Cup I in Linz (2007) when Iztok and me battled out 4 & 5th place, even the announcer did not care about the first 3. The battle was about 4th, and I won by 0,02sec. (clear win!)
4. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Advice must be: train well every day. Rowing is a sport where it pays off to train well over many years. It takes time to be good, but it's possible.
Born: 27 April 1976
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 95 kg
Club: Horten Roklubb
Marital status: Married to Aina, 2 children
Occupation: Rower, farmer
International Results: Double Olympic Champion (04 and 08) and double World Champion (01 and 03) in Single Sculls Competitions: Participated in five Olympics and taken two Olympic gold medals and one Olympic silver; Participated in 14 World Cup and made two World Cup gold medals, one World Championship silver and three World Cup bronze; Participated in two European Championships and made 1 EM-bronze; Participated in all 49 World Cup regattas and made six World Cup gold, 9 World Cup silver and 8 World Cup bronze; Won World Cup five times (99/00/01/04/09); Won Nordic Championship 11 times; Won His Majesty the King Trophy many times
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