Norwegian skier Kristine Skistad accuses coach of sexual harassment

Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Kristine Skistad has publicly accused her former coach of 13 years, Lage Sofienlund, of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. In an interview with TV2, Skistad described a pattern of control, excessive physical proximity, and a confusion of roles that led her to lose her sense of self.

Skistad detailed a specific incident occurring before the World Championships in Trondheim, where Sofienlund allegedly took her to his hotel room and asked her to lie in bed next to him under the guise of mental preparation. She refused the request, citing discomfort regarding her clothing.

Her former club, Konnerud IL, stated that the specific descriptions of sexual harassment are new information to them and has engaged a law firm to assess the claims. However, a former club official, Henning Kleven, has disputed this, claiming that reports of unwanted sexual behavior were communicated to the club much earlier and that his previous protests regarding the handling of the matter were ignored.