British cross country skier Gledhill gets drunk during 50km World Cup race at Holmenkollen

Gledhill claims to have drunk more than a dozen beers during the race
Gledhill claims to have drunk more than a dozen beers during the raceNTB, NTB / Alamy / Profimedia

Holmenkollen, the Nordic skiing mecca, is famous for its festive atmosphere. The fans are known for their lively celebrations, but this time, British cross-country skier Gabriel Gledhill decided to join in the fun himself during Saturday’s 50 km World Cup race in Oslo. He crossed the finish line completely drunk—and talked openly about it.

"It was incredibly fun. I’m pretty drunk. I started drinking beer and schnapps already during the third lap. It was a crazy experience," the 23-year-old told Scandinavian media. By his own count, he downed more than a dozen beers and a handful of schnapps.

With over 20 minutes behind winner Einar Hedegart (Norway), Gledhill finished in 67th place out of 75 starters.

"I’m pretty drunk right now. It was quite tough to make it to the finish. But at Holmenkollen, it’s all about having fun," he explained. Gledhill didn’t get through the ordeal entirely unscathed: he admitted to throwing up during the race.

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