On Wednesday morning came the press release from the Norwegian Ski Association (NSF) that “Therese Johaug has clarified the future.” They are calling for a press conference with Johaug (36) in Holmenkollen at 11.00 today. In addition to Johaug, general manager of NSF cross-country Cathrine Instebø and national team coach Sjur Ole Svarstad will also be present. – Then the WC suddenly got a new favourite, says news’s cross-country expert Torgeir Bjørn with a twinkle in his eye. EXPERT: Torgeir Bjørn. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad He believes that there are many indications that Johaug has now made a choice about the future of skiing: – You don’t know 100 per cent, but with both Instebø and Svarstad in place – it indicates that a solution has been reached. – If she doesn’t make a comeback today, it’s very surprising, he adds. news’s cross-country expert Fredrik Aukland agrees: – Many are waiting for Johaug’s final decision and I think it will come now. She has all the prerequisites to win gold in the WC on home soil. – Therese has been in training this spring and summer and knows what it takes. Now her former coach Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass and training friend Marit Bjørgen are also part of the Ski Association’s support apparatus. Everything is set up for a comeback, Aukland believes. Johaug retired after the Olympics in 2022 after taking individual Olympic gold in Beijing. For the last two seasons, she has worked as an news expert, but has been open about the fact that it has tempted her to participate in the WC in Trondheim. GREAT FORM: Johaug impressed herself and the cross-country elite when she crushed her competitors in the three-mile race in March. Photo: NTB Impressed in the NM One person who hopes that Johaug will return to the national team is cross-country runner Tiril Udnes Weng. – It would mean a lot for Norwegian women’s cross-country skiing if Therese comes back. With Therese on the team, we not only have a strong skier, but also a good teammate with a lot of experience when it comes to the WC on home soil. If Therese bets on the WC, I think everyone knows what she can achieve, says Udnes Weng to news. GOOD TEAM FRIEND: Tiril Udnes Weng (in the middle) hopes Johaug will return to the team. Here together with Heidi Weng (left) and Helene Marie Fossesholm (right). Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Because on the eve of this winter, Johaug made a comeback in the cross-country track, when she started at the NM part 2 in Lillehammer. There she outclassed her competitors and won the three-mile with a whopping two minutes and 49 seconds. A demonstration of power that caused several people to react. – I had expected Therese to fight, but this is a knockout, said Martin Johnsrud Sundby in the news studio after the race. – When you’re so far behind, it almost doesn’t feel like there’s any point in betting, Astrid Øyre Slind followed up in the interview zone. Johaug himself was also surprised, but had by no means decided on further investment. – It must be felt right in my gut before I commit 120 per cent to it, Johaug told news at the time. Now she may have made up her mind. Got a free place on the national team Since then, the national team has been in regular dialogue with Johaug. And when the national team for the coming season was presented earlier in April, the cross-country management confirmed that Johaug had a free place. They also confirmed that they had not set a deadline for when she would have to make up her mind. WON: Therese Johaug overwhelmingly won the women’s class in the Grue Half Marathon in May. Photo: Morten Stenberg Johaug primarily wanted to find out two things: One is how she is physically. The second is how she will cope with being away from her daughter Kristin, whom she had with her husband Nils Jakob Hoff on 17 May last year. – Several things must fall into place. One is family life. It has to go together. She has to put in a lot of training, with sometimes long sessions, says news expert Bjørn. Both at the NM part 2 and during the Grue Half Marathon, she got several good answers about her physical form. It is primarily the solitaire at home, which has been the biggest challenge – I think she has really wanted to bet, but that it should also be optimal for Nils Jakob and Kristin. She needs to feel that it’s okay. The second element is the commercial one. Johaug has, among other things, his own clothing brand Active Brands. – She is quite heavily involved in some industries, which must also be clarified with the Ski Association. It has probably taken time, says Bjørn. Published 07/08/2024, at 07.00 Updated 07.08.2024, at 08.12
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The Skiing Association calls for a press conference with Therese Johaug – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
