The World Cup premiere is close – and all the focus is on the comeback of a ski queen.
How is it going?
– I am very prepared to be defeated, says Therese Johaug.
For Expressen, the Norwegian now talks about her uncertainty, what level is required for WC gold – and then sends a stinging dick to Ebba Andersson.
Ebba Andersson.
Photo: Ulf Palm/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Therese Johaug makes a comeback in this year’s season.
Photo: MAXIM THORÉ / BILDBYRÅN
In just six days, Therese Johaug will be on the starting line in an individual World Cup competition again.
It’s been 993 days since the last one.
That time, on March 12, 2022, it ended as it used to. Johaug won the 10-kilometer race in Falun by a crushing margin, 35 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
In Ruka, the premiere distance is the same.
And yes, that makes Therese Johaug a little thoughtful.
– I don’t know if I can reach the top speed I had before. That’s what I’m most unsure about before everything starts, says the 36-year-old.
– So I’m prepared for the fact that I won’t be at my best in exactly 10 kilometers. I am very prepared to be defeated.
Therese Johaug.
Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB TT NEWS AGENCY
Johaug: “Can take a good beating”
Therese Johaug, on the other hand, does not look particularly worried as she sits and tells Expressen about her thoughts regarding the World Cup premiere.
It actually matters less how it ends in Ruka. Especially at that distance.
Or as she herself says:
– Even if I get beaten – maybe even badly – in 10 kilometers, I have to remember that a five-mile is something else. Five-mile speed is one thing, 10-kilometer speed quite another.
Therese Johaug continues:
– And that is what my goal is. March 9 in Trondheim.
The Norwegian has thus been on the sidelines of the competition track for the past two seasons. Sometimes in the role of expert in NRK’s broadcasts from the World Cup and WC.
There, she has seen former competitors such as Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson win both WC gold and Tour de ski.
– Sweden has an incredibly good team right now. And it is probably Ebba who has been the strongest of all, says Therese Johaug.
What class are you in right now?
– I’m not back at the level I was when I quit. I’m not, says Therese Johaug bluntly.
Therese Johaug’s harsh judgment
At the same time, Johaug’s competitors have developed over the past two years. So the given question is of course: Doesn’t Therese Johaug even need to be better now than in 2022 to win her long-awaited WC gold?
The answer is no. At least if you ask Johaug himself.
– Let me say this: The top level I had then – no one else has reached it yet. Had someone reached that level, we would have seen bigger margins of victory last season than we did, says Johaug.
The 36-year-old thinks a bit before she continues:
– I think a bit like this: If the top level of the others should have become so much higher in the last two years when I wasn’t there – then why didn’t it also happen between 2020 and 2022?
In other words: Is it enough if you take the same class as when you left?
– Yes, I had a very high top level. In individual races during the years I’ve been away, the level has also been high – but I find it hard to see that that level would be higher than mine.
Ebba Andersson.
Photo: Ulf Palm/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Johaug’s dick to Ebba Andersson
The most recent WC was decided in Slovenian Planica. That time, Ebba Andersson left the championship as WC queen with two golds and two bronzes.
But… well, it’s nothing that scares Therese Johaug at all.
– There was a huge hype then. That Ebba has taken big steps forward. And sure enough, she has. Ebba has won many World Cup victories while I have been away. But…
..And?
– …but she had many second places as long as I was there.
Ebba Andersson herself becomes thoughtful when she hears her Norwegian competitor’s analysis of what is required for new WC gold.
– Let me think now, says Ebba Andersson.
Certainly. And what do you come up with?
– That I have taken several steps forward since Therese’s last season in 2022. But at the same time I was a bit behind her that season.
– And that’s the hard part to decide, isn’t it? If those steps forward correspond to the lead she had then.
What do you think?
– I actually don’t know.
Then the Swedish national team star continues:
– But I think that the top-top form that Therese had on some occasions can absolutely be enough to win WC gold this winter as well.
– But the margins will be smaller now. She won’t be able to go there and just rake in gold, Therese will have to work harder.
A first indication of the balance of power between Therese Johaug and the Swedes will come on Saturday.
First, Therese Johaug settles with the Norwegian elite in the 10 kilometer classic in Beitostölen. About an hour later, it is time for the Swedes to compete at the same distance in Bruksvallarna.
The Comeback of Therese Johaug: Speed, Strategy, and a Touch of Sass!
Well, folks, brace yourselves—the World Cup premiere is right around the corner, and the spotlight is beaming down on none other than the ski queen herself, Therese Johaug. After a hiatus of nearly two years, she’s ready to reclaim her place at the top—assuming, of course, she’s not too rusty from all that sofa-sitting!
Ready or Not: Johaug’s Refreshing Honesty
Now, in a candid chat with Expressen, the 36-year-old Norwegian superstar didn’t sugarcoat her expectations. “I’m very prepared to be defeated,” she states, likely amidst a dramatic backlight and slow-motion hair flip. She might need a workout montage to get back in the game, but let’s not count her out just yet!
Acknowledge the Competition
As she gears up for her grand return in Ruka—after a staggering 993 days since her last competition—we’re seeing a different side of Johaug. She’s looking back at her career and acknowledging the fierce competition she’s missed while being a sidelines commentator. Imagine taking a break for two years and coming back to find that your former rivals are hotter than ever. Seriously, talk about pressure!
Feeling the Heat: Speed Talk
Johaug reflects on the challenge of regaining her top speed. “I don’t know if I can reach the top speed I had before.” It’s almost like returning to an old job—except you realize everyone’s been promoted and you’re now sharing an office with people who have a solid six-pack. The new competitors, especially Sweden’s Ebba Andersson, have been racking up medals like they’ve got a personal gold-plating machine!
Spotlight on Ebba: Johaug’s Cheeky Comments
Now, let’s talk about Ebba Andersson. Johaug mentions the “hype” surrounding Andersson’s success but reminds us that she just might have been “second” a bit too often for Johaug’s taste. “She had many second places while I was there,” Johaug quips, which makes you wonder—could this just be a classic case of ‘no one likes a bridesmaid’?
What’s Next?
Johaug seems to take it all in stride, promising that March 9th’s race in Trondheim is her real target, hinting that perhaps she’s playing chess while everyone else is stuck on checkers. Meanwhile, Andersson, in response to Johaug’s competitive banter, seems a bit more contemplative. “It’s hard to decide,” she muses about matching Johaug’s previous dominance. Can you feel the tension crackling in the air? It’s palpable!
The Race to Watch
The showdown begins on Saturday with Johaug battling the Norwegian elite in Beitostölen while the Swedish competition heats up in Bruksvallarna. The excitement is building, almost like watching a reality show unfold—who will win the gold? Will Johaug reclaim her throne, or will the new generation of skiers send her packing?
So, there you have it! The stage is set for a battle of speed, strategy, and perhaps a sarcastic quip or two. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that you won’t want to miss this showdown. Grab your popcorn, folks—this is going to be one for the history books!
The countdown to the World Cup premiere is on, and all eyes are eagerly fixed on the highly anticipated return of skiing legend Therese Johaug.
– I am very prepared to be defeated, says Johaug, revealing her readiness to face the challenge ahead.
In an exclusive interview with Expressen, the Norwegian star discusses her feelings of uncertainty, the extraordinary level of performance required for World Cup gold, and doesn’t shy away from sending a pointed remark towards fellow competitor Ebba Andersson.
In just six days, Johaug will step back into competitive skiing for the first time in almost two years, as she prepares to race in an individual World Cup event. The last time she competed was nearly 993 days ago, on March 12, 2022, when she dominated the 10-kilometer race in Falun, finishing a staggering 35 seconds ahead of her closest rival.
As she gears up for the World Cup premiere in Ruka, the same distance looms ahead.
– I don’t know if I can reach the top speed I had before. That’s what I’m most unsure about before everything starts, says the 36-year-old Johaug, reflecting honestly on her comeback.
– Even if I get beaten – maybe even badly – in 10 kilometers, I have to remember that a five-mile is something else. Five-mile speed is one thing, 10-kilometer speed quite another.
She has been out of the competitive arena for the past two seasons but has not strayed far from the sport, serving as an expert for NRK’s broadcasts of World Cup events. During this time, she has witnessed former rivals like Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson achieve remarkable successes, including World Cup gold medals and victories in the Tour de Ski.
– Sweden has an incredibly good team right now. And it is probably Ebba who has been the strongest of all, says Therese Johaug, praising her competitor’s performance.
– Let me say this: The top level I had then – no one else has reached it yet. Had someone reached that level, we would have seen bigger margins of victory last season than we did, says Johaug with conviction, stating that her absence has not drastically raised the competition level.
– Yes, I had a very high top level. In individual races during the years I’ve been away, the level has also been high – but I find it hard to see that that level would be higher than mine.
Despite an impressive performance history, Johaug’s competitors have been sharpening their skills, leading to tough questions about whether she needs to exceed her previous performances to secure another World Cup victory. Johaug’s response is clear: she believes current contenders have not yet surpassed her previous heights.
– There was a huge hype then. That Ebba has taken big steps forward. And sure enough, she has. Ebba has won many World Cup victories while I have been away. But she had many second places as long as I was there, Johaug carefully notes, offering a critique of her competitor’s success.
As the spotlight narrows onto the upcoming races, a decisive measure of the dynamic between Therese Johaug and her Swedish rivals will soon unfold. This weekend, Johaug will first face off against the Norwegian elite in the 10-kilometer classic at Beitostölen, while an hour later, the Swedish team competes in a parallel event at Bruksvallarna.
How has Johaug’s absence impacted the competitive landscape of cross-country skiing?
Derson rise to prominence, claiming numerous medals and accolades in her absence. Johaug acknowledges the impressive efforts of the new generation, emphasizing that the competition has indeed evolved during her hiatus. However, she remains confident, asserting that her previous peak performance is still unmatched, even as she prepares for the challenges ahead.
Johaug’s cheeky remarks about Andersson highlight her competitive spirit. While acknowledging Andersson’s growth, she reminds everyone of her former dominance in the sport, suggesting that being second isn’t quite good enough anymore. This friendly rivalry adds another layer of excitement to the upcoming races, as fans eagerly anticipate how Johaug will stack up against Andersson and her fellow competitors.
As the World Cup draws near, anticipation builds not only for Johaug’s return but also for the dynamic between seasoned athletes and emerging stars. The stakes are high, and every race will serve as a litmus test for Johaug’s comeback and the true level of her competitors. Important questions loom: Can Johaug recapture her former glory, or will the new breed of skiers, led by Andersson, redefine the standards of success in the sport?
This rivalry promises to be thrilling as it unfolds on the slopes, with the first face-off set to happen soon. With emotions running high and stakes even higher, the skiing community is geared up for what could be a memorable season full of stunning victories, tight finishes, and perhaps instants of dramatic redemption for Johaug. It’s time for the race to begin—may the best skier win!
