Ingrid Tandrevold Overcomes Mental Strain and Cardiac Surgery

Norwegian biathlete Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, a multiple World Championship and World Cup medalist, disclosed the personal toll of an obsessive drive for perfection during the past two seasons. She said the relentless focus erased pauses, social life, and creative projects, leaving her with mounting anxiety and, for the first time, fear of competing.

The mental pressure coincided with cardiac rhythm disturbances that forced her to undergo an invasive heart‑wire procedure in December 2024, where surgeons placed wires from the groin to the heart to eliminate an abnormal conduction pathway. The operation succeeded, and Tandrevold now emphasizes the need to draw energy from life beyond sport, adopting a more balanced and enjoyable approach to training and competition.