He is world champion and has a total of 11 medals from international championships. But right now Kristoffer Brun (34) doesn’t have a boat to compete in.

– After all, it’s frustrating, Brun told VG.

Together with Are Strandli, he has medal ambitions at the Tokyo Olympics last year. It ended in a dramatic reversal in the semifinals.

– Every time I see the picture, my stomach hurts. This is not fun. It was brutal, says Bergen ten months after the Olympics slump.

Brun and Strandli began their collaboration in lightweight double sculls in 2007. The Olympics was Strandli’s final. Kristoffer Brun has decided to focus on the Paris 2024 Olympics. But at heavyweight.

He became the new “Olaf Tufte” in the Norwegian double four. At the end of his career, Tufte did not get along with Martin Helseth, Erik Solbakken and Oscar Stabe Helvig. It couldn’t get any better with Brun on board.

New Norwegian national team manager Mark Emke, in collaboration with the rowers, has decided that the ship will be disbanded.

– I agree. We are four very good rowers. It’s got to do with chemistry that we don’t work out, says Brun.

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

– I’ve been spoiled by rowing with Are. I know what I’ve been doing in training and it’s stable and good. It’s quite demanding now, explains the Bergen native who, in addition to Olympic bronze, won WC and EC gold with Are Strandli. His 11 international medals beat Olaf Tufte’s total.

Last Saturday, Kristoffer Brun instead rowed a double scull with Jonas Juel at the Christiania regatta in Årungen. The duo finished more than 20 seconds behind their former double four partners – Solbakken and Helvig – who had already placed 10th in WC together. But on Sunday Brun rowed with Oscar Helvig in better times 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 its newly drafted double scull and double fours in Lucerne next month.

– It’s open. Everyone wants the best boat. There are many skilled oarsmen who want space. It’s about assembling the best boat, explains Brun.

Over the years, he has reduced his weight to 70 kg to row lightweight. He didn’t want to go back to the diet.

– No, it’s a little demanding to lose weight. Also, part of the 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 give something.

Brun/Strandli successors 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 the European champion in lightweight single scull.