Marit Bjørgen knows that she can break the record for career Winter Olympic medals and gold medals in PyeongChang.
She’s also aware that the current record holder could add to his tally, too.
A pair of Norwegian legends will compete in their final Olympics and compete against each other, but not in the same events, in February.
Bjørgen, a 37-year-old cross-country skier and mother, has won 10 medals, including six golds, among the last four Winter Games. She is already the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history.
Bjørgen is three medals (and two golds) shy of the overall Winter Olympic medal record. That’s held by Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen, a 43-year-old who is expected to race in his seventh Winter Games.
Cross-country skiing and biathlon are two sports where athletes can rack up several medals throughout the 16 days of the Games, both individually and in relays.
Bjørgen said it’s a dream -- but not a goal -- and certainly motivation to try and pass Bjørndalen’s record in PyeongChang, according to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG).
Bjørndalen snatched the title in Sochi, passing another Norwegian, retired cross-country skier Bjørn Dæhlie, by one total medal and tying Dæhlie’s record for golds.
Incredibly, Bjørgen could be favored to pass Bjørndalen in five months, a little more than two years after giving birth to son Marius.
She returned to competition last season and dominated the world championships, winning three of the four individual events and anchoring Norway’s winning relay team.
Bjørndalen earned one medal at the 2017 World Biathlon Championships -- a bronze.
If Bjørgen and Bjørndalen repeat those medal takeaways in PyeongChang, Bjørgen will tie Bjørndalen in total medals and pass him in golds by two to become the most decorated Winter Olympian in history.
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