“It’s not about being the best, it’s about trying your best.”

FIS Cross-Country: Emil, how did you grow up?

Emil Iversen: “I like to say that I was born in a pulk, as my mom and dad love the outdoors and took us along right from the start. Growing up in Maråker, we have always been outside grew up surrounded by one of the finest and most beautiful nature areas of the world. We went on camping trips, fishing and spent a lot of time in our cabin and on skis. This is the lifestyle I grew up with and my mother and father taught me the love for the sport. We never talked about becoming the best skier but when I got older I got better and better in skiing, I got more interested in working to become better.”

FIS Cross-Country: What were your interests and hobbies growing up?

Emil Iversen: “I liked to do so many things when I was young and my parents never put pressure on me to follow only one thing. The love and the passion, if you really want to be good at something, you need to feel it from inside. That is what my mom and dad learned me.”

FIS Cross-Country: How would you describe yourself as a child?

Emil Iversen: “I have two sides. I could be outside all the time, making jumps in the snow around the house, spend hours on the sleigh riding down the roads but I could also just be inside, sit on the sofa, watch TV and eat Pizza, as I always had a love for unhealthy food. It was tough on my mother because if I could have decided myself, I would probably only have sat inside, drink Coke and eat unhealthy stuff. So I am really grateful for my mom that she made me eat healthy food.”