Einar Hedegart received clear words of encouragement from Johannes Høsflot Klæbo after a lackluster qualification round for the team sprint at the Olympics. Klæbo advised Hedegart to not fear either success or failure and to capitalize on his strengths, emphasizing the importance of following the lead during the race. This motivational boost came from both Klæbo and their sprint coach Arild Monsen, and the duo's performance resulted in a convincing gold medal victory for Norway ahead of teams from the USA and Italy.

Despite the victory, the qualification round raised some concerns among Norwegian supporters, as Klæbo performed exceptionally well while Hedegart struggled to achieve a competitive time, finishing with only the 25th best time out of 54 participants. Klæbo's time was notably ten seconds faster than that of his teammate Hedegart, which led to questions about the team's potential performance in the finals. Hedegart explained that he felt he wasn’t as underperforming as the results indicated, attributing his lower finish to a lack of speed in the qualification that was necessary for such high-level competition.

Ultimately, Klæbo's leadership and insistence on remaining confident boosted Hedegart's spirits, allowing them to refocus and excel in the finals. Their victory not only solidified their status as a formidable pairing in the team sprint but also exemplified the significance of mental endurance and teamwork in achieving success at the Olympic level. The gold medal further emphasizes Norway's dominance in winter sports, particularly in cross-country skiing events.