Skiing: British star Andrew Musgrave in shock victory in Norway
Great Britain cross-country skier Andrew Musgrave has pulled off one of the great victories in winter sports history.
Last Updated: 20/01/14 11:54am
Musgrave, 23, caused a major upset by winning the freestyle sprint at the Norwegian Championships in Lillehammer, leaving Norway in a state of disbelief.
His stunning victory is the top news story on the Norwegian national broadcaster, whilst website Nettavisen.no referenced the famous commentary of Bjorge Lillelien after Norway's famous football win over England in 1981 to tell the nation's cross-country coach: 'Arild Monsen, You Guys Took A Hell Of A Beating'.
Musgrave, based in Aberdeen, had to fight through three rounds to reach the final, which in itself was a massive achievement. And in the final he stunned a nation which has won 96 Olympic cross-country skiing medals over the years.
Musgrave will now head to next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi in the form of his life and with real hopes he can become the first Briton to reach at least the quarter-finals of the sprint competition.
Musgrave said: "Winning the Norwegian Championships just a few weeks before I go to the Olympics is easily the best thing I've ever done.
"It"s always good fun beating the Norwegians at their own sport. I live in Norway and go to university here, so it almost feels like a home victory.
"I've had a lot of Norwegians coming up to me and telling me that as it's basically their own Olympic selection race, I could have made their team for the Games.
"I feel like not just me but our whole Great Britain team is getting some great results and showing that we can ski really well."
Great Britain's cross-country team leader Roy Young said: "This is an amazing win for Andrew. It is a demolition job on some world-class racers who had everything to gain as it was effectively a Norwegian selection race for the Olympics.
"If Andrew was Norwegian, I'm sure he would be selected for their team.
"Andrew has a track record of winning in Norway but this is one of the best results ever for him and for the team, and a real indicator for us that he will be going to Sochi in the very best form."
