Heidi Røneid on Maurstad vs Sundby Duel Controversy

NB! The article reveals who had to leave “Farmen celebrity” in the third duel.

In the third week at Fredheim farm in Søgne, Stinius Maurstad (31) received a lot of praise for choosing a strong opponent in battle.

– Respect, Trude Vasstrand (61) exclaimed when the violinist chose the muscular training profile Sondre Sundby (34) as second champion.

– Absolutely terrible

The rules dictated that Sundby should choose a branch in Sunday’s elimination competition, and several of the participants on the farm expected that the 34-year-old would go for a fair fight.

– I really thought that Sondre would take up sledgehammer or sawing. When I get up there and see that bag, I just realize that Stinius is going to lose, says Heidi Røneid (43).

– I was beaten down in broad daylight

In the backpack event, it is important to show off raw muscle power, and there is little doubt as to which of Maurstad and Sundby is the strongest in that area.

– It’s like watching a predator eat a small animal alive. It’s absolutely horrible to watch. It was a hugely unfair fight. Strength matters so much. It was absolutely awful, says a crying Røneid.

– So brutal

Maurstad explains that of all the branches Sundby could have chosen, it was the sack that he feared the most.

After Maurstad was thrown around and crushed in the duel, he broke down in tears and was embraced by a consoling presenter, Dorthe Skappel (63).

– He is probably proud in one way or another, but it doesn’t take much to win this game here. That’s precisely why I thought he was going to choose something where he didn’t have to crush me so violently, says the 31-year-old.

The strong outburst of emotion, Maurstad believes, is due to something other than a reaction to his quitting “Farmen kendis”.

– I think I may be shaken by the effort. I’m not that sad, I just don’t think it was the exercise for me. Or the opponent. I don’t think I could have done anything better either, he says to TV 2.

Back at the farm after the duel, Sundby had to endure critical questions about why he chose a branch where the probability was high that he would crush Maurstad.

– No, it turned out that way in the end. I just thought I don’t want to take any chances. It felt unfair and it’s no fun. I’m still in “The Farm”, but right now I have a bad feeling inside. It just feels wrong that things turned out the way they did during the competition, he stated.

– I think it’s crazy

When TV 2 meets Sundby many months after the “Farmen kjendis” recording, he says that the match against Maurstad made an impression.

– I think it’s crazy that it was so brutal. I was very hurt by Stinius. I was sad after that session, because it was much more brutal than I had imagined.

Sundby is impressed by the opposition Maurstad gave him, and explains that one should not underestimate the 31-year-old.

– What very few people know about Stinius is that he is super athletic and very well trained. I thought it was going to be an “easy match”, but it’s crazy what he was able to get out of his body.

– Are you afraid of being criticized for choosing to challenge Stinius in a branch in which you had the best chance of winning?

– No, you can’t. I couldn’t take any chances, and people don’t realize that Stinius is good at absolutely everything.

– Firstly, he’s insanely smart, and secondly, he’s athletic as hell. I just had to choose what was “safest” for me, because I wasn’t in a hurry to rush out, he points out.

– People are happy to say that it is unfair, but it is not. He chose me, and I had to choose a battle.

He repeats that the victory nevertheless came with a slightly unpleasant aftertaste.

– I needed some time afterwards, because it’s not often that I’m down. It was the only time during my stay that I was down.