Five tournament victories, semifinals in the ATP play-offs and ranking as part of the absolute world elite.

This is how last year’s results for Casper Ruud read, but it wasn’t enough to earn Olympiatoppen A status. When the list for 2022 is publishedtennis profile still has the letter B behind the name.

Jan Petter Saltvedt of NRK believes that it happened out of his own wits.

– That qualification for the ATP play-offs in tennis itself is not more than enough to qualify for a shining A scholarship in Norway is itself a bit absurd, he said.

– Dunfortunately it shows again how honestly this rule is practiced on the part of Olympiatoppen, concluded the sports commentator.

Ruud just reached the final of the Roland Garros tournament in Paris. Grand Slam tournaments take place in the exact same facility where Olympic medals will be awarded two years from now.

Lars Gjerdåker, president of the Norwegian Tennis Association, asked the Olympic Summit to change the rules.

– Casper is not a B player. They have to look at how they measure quality, continued Gjerdåker.

– Bigger than an Olympic medal

A total of 16 athletes and two teams in summer sports were awarded the Olympiatoppens A scholarship in February. To receive an A grant, certain criteria must be met. On Olympiatoppen site the following results are declared usually trigger grant A:

• Medals in the Olympic or Paralympic Games
• Placement among the top three at the World Cup overall in an Olympic or Paralympic sport

Olympiatoppen also has criteria which, upon further assessment, can trigger an A scholarship offer:

• Top results in the Olympics, PL, World Cup, in special cases EC, and/or competition at a similar level.

Tennis president Gjerdåker believes the criteria place too much emphasis on medals.

– MMedals are not awarded very often in Tennis. Grand Slam tournaments may have a higher status than the Olympics. This is bigger than a tennis Olympic medal, he said of Ruud’s achievements in the ongoing tournament on clay that will be contested for a medal in 2024.

Saltvedt completely agreed. He was disillusioned with the rules, but also with how they were enforced by Olympiatoppen.

– It’s hard to understand why people would doubt an unrealistic interpretation of the rules — whether it’s to save money that should actually be happily spent, or whether it’s because you don’t know any better, he says.

– Can be interpreted and misunderstood

Marit Breivik, head of summer sports at Olympiatoppen, believes there’s no need to get hung up on which letter stands behind which athlete.

– Those of us who work closely on this do not see it that way, he said.

However Breivik stated that the criteria will be evaluated this year, and he predicts this may also lead to changes in that timeframe.

– I agree that with A and B this can be interpreted and misunderstood, he admits.

The summer sports manager further stated that only the number of scholarships differs for athletes A and B, and Ruud therefore has access to the same academic support that he would get if he were categorized as an A.

– So really, this is meaningless, because he earns more than the income limit for financial support, Breivik concludes.

Saltvedt dismissed this as a cheap argument.

– Ruud obviously doesn’t need the money right now but it’s about principles and at least a general understanding of levels in various sports.