– What can you say? I am very pleased. It went beyond all expectations, says Andreassen to news after his senior debut in the NM. The 17-year-old first-year junior finished 5th in the sprint and came sixth in the 10 kilometer freestyle at Gjøvik. Now she will fight for medals in the Junior WC, and on her way to Canada she is receiving praise from Therese Johaug. – Oh, it’s really nice. I have to take with me all the advice I can get and all the inspiration and positive things that are said. There are no startling secrets hidden behind the success. She has increased the number of training hours to 700 annually, a high number for such a young athlete. Coach Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes describes her as an extremely dedicated athlete. – I have changed the amount of training quite a bit. I train a lot of speed, strength and go on some long walks, says Andreassen, and believes she has hit the mark with the scheme so far. Johaug’s advice: Let her be a junior! The young talent is still a bigger talking point in the cross-country environment than in the national media, but has been warned by the coaching staff that a lot will be written and thought about what she should do if she continues her development. news expert Johaug has experienced firsthand how the pressure increases when you break through at a young age: – Many will say: “You have to do this, you should do your thing, you have to do that”. She must trust what has brought her to where she is today and listen to those who are closest to her. news EXPERT AND SKIING: Therese Johaug. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news The Olympic queen was excited by what the 17-year-old showed during the National Championships in Gjøvik. The junior appeared fearless, offensive and extremely promising. In the Norwegian Cup against older juniors, she was a minute faster than the next a few weeks ago. Next week she is a medal contender – if not favorite – at the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada. – Let her be a junior! Now it’s about preserving the joy of sport and hurrying slowly to take the next steps, according to Johaug. – Let her be a junior when she is a junior! Yes, she can go to senior races and take part in a senior WC if she is good enough, but she has to follow her team until junior age. That might be the best advice I can give her. Don’t rush into an elite team. Few know as much as the 34-year-old when it comes to breaking through at a young age. Almost overnight, she became a national hero when, as an 18-year-old, she became the youngest ever medalist after winning bronze in the 30-kilometer race. When she is asked what is the key to continuing development and mastering the transition from junior to senior – as she herself did – she believes it is wise to steer clear of the temptation to skip age classes: – You are still at school, you can’t stand it the total training load. She should follow her development ladder, so she can, for example, host with the seniors at certain gatherings when she is ready for it. TOOK THE COMMAND: Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen entered the race first ahead of Maria Hartz Melling and Hedda Østberg Amundsen during the sprint quarter-finals on Thursday. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Johaug spent many years building the foundations that led up to the jam-packed training diary. She warns against taking too big steps in a short time at a young age. The pitfalls are many. She remembers both the surprise, the joy and the feeling of mastery – but also how it contributed to slightly heavier shoulders. The impression she was left with was that she constantly had to copy that performance in the Sapporo WC in 2008. – I thought that everyone around me expected me to win every single race. Then you are disappointed because you enter 10th place, which is really great, but you constantly compare yourself to the best you have done, says the current news expert. Must slow down in training The promising 17-year-old is trained by Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, former junior world champion and WC finalist in sprinting. The former national team runner believes her most important job is to hold back the young girl: – She is so willing and eager to train that it can quickly become too much. It’s a job to follow along and slow her down every now and then. She really just wants to drive and drive. But if you do it for too long, the body will say stop. As a junior, you don’t know it as well yourself, says Gjeitnes to news. CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes won Marcialonga in 2020. Shortly afterwards she retired as an active skier. Photo: Mario Facchini / AP Andreassen is described by the coach as an athlete who puts in the work required. Gjeitnes says it is important that she learns to make her own choices and becomes an independent athlete – something she proved a long way in the NM final. – She makes many good assessments and choices herself, but there is some guidance along the way. As a junior, you haven’t experienced much. I use what I have experienced through ups and downs and try to teach her that. Some things work, other things don’t. PS! You can watch Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen’s race in the junior WC on news. See the fact box for an overview of the entire Norwegian squad that is being sent to Whistler in Canada. Norway’s squad for the junior WC These are the WC for Norway between 27 January and 4 February 2023: Junior class, women: Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen, Bækkelagets SK Tuva Anine Brusveen-Jensen, Lyn IL Nora Sofie Doksrød, Runar IL Eva Ingebrigtsen, Bratsberg IL Anniken Sand, Sjåstad/Vestre Lier IL Ingeborg Andberg Stenersen, Kvaløysletta Ski Team Oline Vestad, Vågå IL Junior class, men: Lars Michael Saab Bjertnæs, Sports Club Njård Casper Kvam Grindhagen, Byaasen Ski Club Lars Heggen, Harestua IL Mathias Holbæk, IL Vindbjart Kristian Kollerud, Konnerud IL Thomas Linnebo Mollestad, Oddersjaa SSK Jørgen Nordhagen, Sjåstad/Vestre Lier IL U23 class, women: Hedda Bakkemo, Gjøvik IL Margrethe Bergane, Konnerud IL Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, Fossum IF Sigrid Leseth Føyen, Kjelsås IL Ingrid Andrea Gulbrandsen, Bardufoss and Omegn IL Emma Kirkeberg Mørk, Drammens BK Nora Sanness, Kjelsås IL U23 class, men: Ansgar Evensen, Vind IL Lars Agnar Hjelmeset, Gjelleråsen IF Amund Korsæth, Trøsken IL Martin Kirkeberg Mørk, Drammens BK Andreas Fjorde Ree, Støren SK Edvard Sandvik, Kjelsås IL Jonas Vika, MjøSki
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Therese Johaug asks super talent Milla Andreassen to close her ears – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
