He is a world champion and has a total of 11 medals from international championships. But right now Kristoffer Brun, 34, has no boat to compete with.

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– Anyway, it’s frustrating, Brun told VG.

Together with Are Strandli, he has ambitions to win a medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. It ended in a dramatic upside in the semi-finals.

– Every time I see that picture, I have a stomach ache. It’s not fun. It was brutal, said Bergen ten months after the Olympic slump.

Brun and Strandli started their collaboration in lightweight double sculls in 2007. The Olympics were the finals for Strandli. Kristoffer Brun has decided to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. But at the heavyweight class.

He became the new “Olaf Tufte” in four Norwegian doubles. Late in his career, Tufte did not get along with Martin Helseth, Erik Solbakken and Oscar Stabe Helvig. There’s nothing better with Brun on board.

Norway’s new national team manager Mark Emke, in collaboration with the rowers, has decided that the boat will be disbanded.

– I agree. We are four very good rowers. “It has to do with the chemistry that we don’t make it,” says Brun.

Thus, last weekend’s World Cup in Poland went without him in the Norway squad.

– I’ve been pampered by rowing with Are. I know what I’ve been doing in training and it’s been stable and good. Now it’s quite demanding, depicting a Bergen native who, in addition to Olympic bronze, won WC and EC gold with Are Strandli. His 11 international medals surpassed Olaf Tufte’s total.

Last Saturday, Kristoffer Brun even rowed a double scull together with Jonas Juel in the Christiania regatta in rungen. The duo finished more than 20 seconds behind their former counterparts in the doubles four – Solbakken and Helvig – who already have 10th place in the WC together. But on Sunday Brun paddled with Oscar Helvig in better timing than Solbakken/Helvig.

Now the cards will be presented again for the World Cup in Switzerland (8-10 July), EC in Germany (11-14 August) and the World Cup in the Czech Republic (18-25 September). Norway is expected to field the newly drafted double sculls and double fours in Lucerne next month.

– It’s open. Everyone wants the best boat. There were many skilled rowers who wanted a place. It’s about crafting the boat that can be the best, Brun explains.

Over the years, he has reduced his weight to 70 kg for rowing at light weight. He didn’t want to go back to dieting.

– No, it’s a little demanding to lose weight. Also, part of his motivation was to see if that could also be achieved in the heavyweight division. I think there is potential in the group and I imagine that I can contribute something.

Brun/Strandli substitutes Ask Tjøm and Lars Benske won the World Cup in Poznan last weekend.

– I hope they make it happen, said Kristoffer Brun, who is also European champion in lightweight singles scull.