– To not give the WC a chance in the form I am in now would have been too stupid, says Johaug to news at Wednesday’s press conference. The 36-year-old does not hide that she is looking forward to competing against the Swedes, and believes they will welcome her: – I have seen that many people want me to make a comeback. At least over to the “other side”, the Swedish girls. I hope that this can shake them up a bit, she says and laughs. BRILLIANT AS A SUN: Therese Johaug smiled from ear to ear at Wednesday’s press conference. She is looking forward to fighting Andersson and the rest of the Swedes in the coming season. Photo: Ragna Kristine Sandholt / news The news of Johaug’s comeback has reached the neighboring country. Ebba Andersson was called by Sveriges Radio in the middle of a training session to comment on her rival’s comeback: – It will be really cool, but now I have to keep training if I want to be able to match her, says Andersson. HAPPY BUT CONCERNED: Ebba Andersson is happy to have Johaug back in the ring, but will do everything to beat her. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Earlier on Wednesday, Johaug confirmed the comeback on social media, where the Swedish cross-country team commented, with inspiration from the artist Charli XCX’s tribute to the American presidential candidate Kamala Harris: “Therese IS brat. Welcome back.” Brat is “the girl who is a bit messy and likes to party and who might say some stupid things now and then, who likes to feel herself, but who also might have a breakdown,” the artist explained. Brat is also the name of Charli XCX’s latest album. The Norwegian national team women are also ready to put in some extra sessions to keep up with Johaug. – They joke a bit that it will be tough long trips now. They know what kind of level the women have had in the past, and they have great faith in a high level for the winter as well, says national team coach Ole Sjur Svarstad to news. CONFIRMED: Johaug writes on Instagram that she wants to aim for the WC in Trondheim in 2025. Photo: Therese Johaug / Instagram – I dream of a gold On Wednesday, the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) held a press conference with Therese Johaug in Holmenkollen. – I have to say that when I put my skis on the shelf in 2022, it really hurt inside me. I didn’t quit because I was tired of competing, because I was tired of training. I loved what I was doing, but the desire and dream of becoming a mother was so great that it was worth giving up. READY: Johaug is in place in Holmenkollen to talk about the comeback. Photo: NTB This is how Johaug opens the press conference. The cross-country veteran continues: – I have used the two years now very well to feel whether I still want to go skiing or not. And then there’s the WC in Trondheim, as I’ve said to myself, it’s okay to make a comeback! And there she has her plan ready: – I dream of a gold. Johaug confirms that she is aiming for the five thousand in Trondheim. – It is the one that tempts me the most. Five miles have never been organized in a championship before. But the skiing star says that the Tour de Ski is out of the question and that she is not betting on the World Cup overall. – I try to join in what can be done, says Johaug about the road to the WC. PRESS CONFERENCE: In addition to Johaug, Cathrine Instebø from NSF and national team coach Sjur Ole Svarstad are also in place in Holmenkollen. Photo: Ragna Kristine Sandholt / news – Fortunately, kindergarten starts on Monday 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. – How are you going to get the solitaire going at home? – Fortunately, kindergarten starts on Monday. Now there is light in the tunnel here. It means a lot that Kristin is now starting kindergarten. One can get more time, rest and recovery when she is there. And then I have a man who is 100% behind that decision here, and who supports me. and have wonderful family and friends who support them. 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. 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 news’s cross-country experts are happy about the return. – Then suddenly the WC got a new favourite, says news expert Bjørn and adds: – It’s a vitamin injection for Norway and for the WC. Colleague Fredrik Aukland agrees: – 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. National team runner Tiril Udnes Weng is also satisfied with Johaug’s comeback. – 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 ground, says national team skier Tiril Udnes Weng to news. – It’s almost night and day on the national team, says Bjørn. Impressed in the National Championships On the eve of this winter, Johaug was back in the cross-country track, when she started at the National Championships part 2 in Lillehammer. There she outclassed her competitors and won the three-mile with a whopping two minutes and 49 seconds. 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 Both at the NM part 2 and during the Grue Half Marathon, she got several good answers about her physical form. – I think she has been aware for a long time that she wanted to bet, so the family solitaire also had to be in place. It went in. And then I think that there is also a puzzle with the commercial side before all the pieces are in order, says Bjørn. 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 18.13
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Bets towards the World Cup in Trondheim 2025 – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
