When everything shut down, the Olympic hopeful knew what to do. Hermann Tomasgaard asked some of the world’s best sailors to come to Norway.

This week, the Kieler Woche takes place in Germany, one of the largest sailing races in the world. Maybe that will be the only competition this season.

Norway’s best sailors were there, including Hermann Tomasgaard. He had qualified Norway for a quota spot at the Olympics, but when everything shut down, he knew what had to be done.

This 26 year old man usually travels more than 200 days a year. Suddenly, like all top athletes, he was forced to stay home. And in Norway, he doesn’t have all the competition in the world in the laser sailing class. What now?

– This is a completely different season than expected because the Olympics were postponed. I have to see it as a challenge, he said and continued:

– I depend on my toughest competitors.

Headed to Tokyo

Tomasgaard decided to take the time to go into the details, which is usually not possible with many regattas in different countries.

But he can’t do it all alone. Therefore, the Norwegian side invited 10-12 sailors from various countries, including defending world champion Philipp Buhl (30) from Germany and Jesper Stålheim (32), winner of the Olympic trials. Both giants took part in the last Olympics. The Norwegian coach from Spain also stated that he was willing to come.

– I feel the pressure to compete with high level sailors. It’s usually a stressful culture. “Now we feel calmer and can take advantage of each other,” he said.

– It says something about the level of Tomasgaard that the best foreigners feel the need to come here and train, says Morten Jensen of the Norwegian Sailing Association.

Learn from each other

Sailing is a complex sport. Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand are major sailing countries that find good athletes in their own countries. Tomasgaard had to look for another solution.

– But what if you are all hunting for gold, some information is kept secret?

– So far it’s going well. We have to work on it a little bit. I noticed that before important competitions, there was more tension in the group. We have different qualities, but I noticed that if I started sharing the things I have, then other people would open up too.

Norway has a culture of sharing

Tomasgaard said he was getting pretty fast in the crossing (the wind was from the front). In the past, Lance (wind from behind) was the strongest point.

Spain coach Anton Garrote is impressed by Norway’s top-flight sporting culture.

– We are good at sharing and trying to create collaborations. It’s much better for us to do that than to just fight with each other. After all, the best will win.

In Kiel, KNS sailors aim for a podium finish.

– Only then will I be satisfied.

Morten Jensen believes Tomasgaard can appear there.

– I take it very seriously and purposefully. He has endured a long time and passed the degree. And the most important thing is to learn from Kristian Ruth, the former great Norwegian sailor in Laser. He participated in two Olympic Games.