Ladies nordic combined just got reinforced by a very accomplished athlete. Svenja Wuerth – World Championships medalist – has become a member of the German national nordic combined team.
– Life is about facing new challenges. Some people could have already suspected something, for the others my decision will be a big surprise. I can’t wait for my new trainings programme and the coming season, which will for sure be a big test for me.
Svenja Wuerth
Svenja already last February participated in Continental Cup nordic combined competition, which was held in Eisenerz (Austria). She was clearly best after the ski jumping, but didn’t manage to make it to the finish line during the 5 kilometre cross country race.
– It was a typical rookie mistake! I started my breakaway too soon. I have no problem with running such distances, but I hadn’t done it in ten years – Svenja Wuerth told stimme.de website.
The German athlete this spring intensified her stamina trainings and cycled almost 700 kilometres.
“Nordic combined had been always in my heart, but there was just no chance to pursue this discipline in the past. Otherwise I would not abandon it for sure. Over the last few years the ladies nordic combined evolved a lot though” – she added.
Svenja admits that her decision to switch to nordic combined was influenced by the German ski federation, which promised support and also the upcoming world championships in Oberstdorf. Ladies nordic combined will be included in that event for the first time in history.
Apart from Wuerth, the German national 2020/2021 team also includes Maria Gerboth (2002), Emilia Goerlich (2003), Cindy Haasch (2004), Sophia Maurus (2001) and Jenny Nowak (2001).
Svenja had been a member of the German national team in ski jumping for many years. Her biggest success was the gold medal in the mixed competition in Lahti (2017). The same year she celebrated her career only World Cup podium. She was 3rd then in Ljubno.
Wuerth’s career was disrupted by a series of injuries. In January 2014 she broke her 6th cervical vertebra and in December 2017 – she ruptured ACL in the left knee. Both injuries made it impossible for Svenja to debut at the Olympic Games – first in Sochi (2014) then in PyongChang (2018). Last winter the German athlete ranked 24th in the World Cup overall with 115 points.