Ole’s cheerleading consolation

The king is not dead, he’s just testing skis and being the best cheerleader he can be for his wife.

It wasn’t by choice, mind you.

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who is known in his sport as the “king of the biathlon”, would rather be participating in the Pyeongchang Games than watching them.

The Norwegian legend who has won 13 Olympics medals — more than any man in history — didn’t qualify for his seventh Games.

But he’s here in Pyeongchang anyway trying to help his wife, biathlete Darya Domracheva of Belarus, win some medals and simply be there for support.

Domracheva came through on Saturday night with a silver medal in the mass start and Bjoerndalen was beaming with pride.

“She was incredible,” Bjoerndalen said with a wide smile.

But there is a noticeable sadness in the king’s voice, too, knowing that he could be here as a competitor rather than just helping the Belarusians with waxing and testing their skis.

He said he’s tried to stay positive after being informed three weeks before the Games began in South Korea that he didn’t make the Norwegian team.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the 44-year-old Bjoerndalen, who despite struggling in the World Cup season still believes he can compete with the best biathletes in the world.

“At first it was really hard for me because I was really prepared for this Olympics,” Bjoerndalen told Associated Press in an interview.

“I had too many problems in the summer and autumn so I could not do my preparations. But I’m in really good shape now, but that didn’t count toward the qualifications. That’s life.”

At the 2014 Sochi Games, Bjoerndalen won gold in sprint and mixed relay, taking his tally to eight gold medals at the Olympics.

Domracheva knows her husband is hurting ever since hearing the news he wouldn’t be participating in the Olympics.

“Of course for him it would be much better if he could compete here also, but he got over the situation,” Domracheva said.

“Now he is enjoying being here, training a bit and helping our wax men. An extra pair of legs to test the skis.”

Fellow Norwegian Marit Bjoergen, who competes in women’s cross-country skiing, is on the verge of passing him as the most decorated Winter Olympian in history.

Bjoergen has two chances to break the record before the Games come to an end — in the team sprint relay on Wednesday and the mass start on Sunday.

“For sure, I want to see her win. I think she will win at least one more gold — and maybe two more,” Bjoerndalen said of the 37-year-old Bjoergen.