– Incredibly tragic – VG

The Norwegian cross-country skiing community has been shaken after Slovenian Hana Mazi Jamnik (19) died in an accident on roller skis in Strand municipality.

– This is incredibly tragic and our thoughts go out to the family, her loved ones and the surrounding environment, writes Norway’s cross-country manager Espen Bjervig in an SMS to VG.

On Thursday morning, a lorry and a person on roller skis were involved in an accident in the Botshei tunnel in Strand municipality. Hana Mazi Jamnik, 19-year-old national team athlete from Slovenia, lost her life.

A truck driver has been charged. The man’s defender, lawyer Sigurd Rønningen, tells Stavanger Aftenblad that he pleads not guilty.

– Completely tragic accident. Makes me sick to think about it… Very sad. Thinks primarily of the next of kin, writes national team athlete Lotta Udnes Weng.

Jamnik was new to the Slovenian national team before the upcoming WC season at home in Planica. She went to the Junior WC at Lygna last winter (number 24 in 5 km and number 34 in 10 km).

Slovenia is coached by Ola Vigen Hattestad, who coached the Norwegian women’s national team last season. VG has been in contact with Hattestad, who has no opportunity to comment on the matter on Thursday.

– It feels close when there is a competitor, and a practitioner of Ola. It is impossible to imagine how hard it is for those closest to you. Sending my condolences, writes Lotta Udnes Weng.

– Simply a shocking message and a terrible tragedy. A thought provoking in relation to how vulnerable you are on roller skis and bicycles on the roads and in traffic. Feels for her family and team, says national team athlete Harald Østberg Amundsen to VG.

The Slovenian national team has been in Norway for over a week. First in connection with the roller ski runs during this year’s Blinkfestivalen in Sandnes. Afterwards, the team, which has eight athletes, was to stay in the city for a meeting.

19-year-old Jamnik is listed in 18th place from the ten-kilometre joint start in Sandnes just six days ago.

Sports manager in the Blink Festival, Arne Idland, says the following to VG:

– It is terribly sad. My thoughts go out to her family, Ola Vigen Hattestad and his team, and the skiing family in Slovenia. I visited them on Monday as they are here for a gathering after Blinkfestivalen. They have been and still are our guests. This is just terribly sad.

TV 2’s cross-country expert Petter Skinstad stayed in the same hotel as the Slovenian national team during the Blink Festival, but does not know Mazi Jamnik very well. Nevertheless, the incident catches up with him.

– This is terribly sad. Heartbreaking. It doesn’t matter where in the world the person is from. It is incredibly sad for everyone involved, the cross-country skiing environment is a big family, says Skinstad.

He himself went on roller skis most recently today and is well aware of the dangers that can arise along the way. He says it is important that soft and hard road users take each other into account.

– One life lost in traffic is one too many. And you feel it a little extra on your body when it’s one of your own, says Skinstad.

– Visibility on the roads, especially beyond autumn, is important, and will be in even greater focus when you see how easily things can happen, says Østberg Amundsen.