SILVER BOYS AND GIRLS: Tarjei Bø, Johannes Thingnes Bø, Karoline Knotten and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold took Norwegian silver on the opening day of the WC. France won the gold, while Sweden took bronze. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB
But Tarjei Bø (35) is willing to “forgive” that Karoline Knotten (28) has shown support for her German girlfriend after the World Cup silver.
We report from Nove Mesto, Czech Republic on Wednesday 7 February at 21:22
– I had to deal with it. I was about to cheer like “yes!”, but then I had to follow (in Norway). I cheered him on a bit. There was a small smile when “Phil” was born, and then I cheered when “Phil” … no, when Johannes was born!
That’s what Knotten tells VG after the WC silver in the mixed relay, her first championship medal ever.
She and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (27) lifted Norway onto the podium after uncharacteristically weak shooting from the Bø brothers.
Knotten has received dual citizenship in the biathlon circus. It is a point her teammates happily agree with.
FOUND TOGETHER: Karoline Knotten and German Phillip Nawrath are the biathlon circus’ newest super couple – to the great pleasure of the Norwegian biathlon men. Photo: VG / NTB
In autumn, it became known that she is with her German colleague Phillip Nawrath.
And on Wednesday he shot against Johannes Thingnes Bø in the mixed relay with great success. It was and Knotten pulled on the smiley for German triumph.
Here in the WC, however, there is little time to be with each other, but they got to meet each other in competition on the opening day of the championship.
They cheer for each other and her dream scenario was to share the podium with his girlfriend, but it didn’t work out that way.
Because just when Knotten shot Norway back into the victory match, things went wrong for the Germans at the same time. They ended up in fifth place.
Teammates Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø have no doubt that it was the ladies who saved the medal for Norway.
But if Knotten had thought that meant freedom from friendly jabs about her boyfriend, she is, however, gravely mistaken.
– She shot in a German way today. We have Phillip to thank for that one, jokes Thingnes Bø.
– Because I turned ten? It’s not the first time I’ve done it and I’m my own person. I’d like some credit for that I does, Knotten counters with a twinkle in his eye.
Tarjei Bø has previously joked that he doubts where Knotten’s loyalty is actually lies.
– She paid back with interest today. Nawrath has had a new spring, today she was paid back. She took it back on the right day and got a silver medal for Norway, he says now.
Nawrath himself says that his girlfriend has been important to the Norwegian team, and is good at parrying VG’s carefully worded questions.
They are not quite ready for the public role, even if the media occasionally pepper them with dating questions.
– I think she should take credit for it herself, says Nawrath on Thingnes Bø’s claim, but he too takes the harassment with stoic calm:
– We always have fun in the team. We can handle that, says the German.
Knotten also defends her German lover: – I think they were afraid of him, she says.
And with good reason. Germany led after the men had finished their stages, almost half a minute ahead of Norway. No wonder Bø says this: