PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Therese Johaug has opened for a comeback.
Marie-Helene Östlund believes that the return had been successful.
– Giving birth does not have to mean that you have become worse, says “Billan” to Sportbibeln.
The ski icons Marie-Helene Östlund and Therese Johaug never met on the ski trail. But just like many others, the Norwegian’s fine career and successes have not escaped “Billan”.
Billan’s successes
Marie-Helene Östlund, formerly Westin, is the cross-country skier who became “Billan” with the entire Swedish people after her heroic World Cup gold in the 20 kilometer freestyle in Oberstdorf in 1987. An achievement for which she received the Gold of Achievement for the same year, shared with the Swedish national ice hockey team.
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Östlund ended his skiing career in 1995, and has continued to follow cross-country skiing from a distance since then. But even if she had not followed skiing, it would probably have been difficult to escape Therese Johaug’s career and impact on the sport. The Norwegian is seen as one of the best skiers of all time and has a long track record.
Johaug’s comeback (?)
Johaug ended his skiing career in 2022. But it didn’t take long before there were hints of a return. Earlier this year, the 35-year-old told NRK that she is keen to run the WC in Trondheim in 2025, but that no decision has been made.
Something else that happened this year is that Johaug became a mother for the first time, to her daughter Kristin Johaug.
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Motherhood may come between a bid for a comeback. But should there be a return to the tracks for Johaug, Billan Östlund believes that it would have gone as well as possible.
– I am not at all surprised if she were to be at the top, not a bit surprised. Is she like everyone else and continues to train hard after her career and… giving birth does not have to mean that you have become worse, but it can rather be the opposite – that you become even stronger. So that I am not at all surprised if she were to make a comeback that she would be at the top, says Östlund to Sportbibeln.
READ MORE: “Billan” Östlund’s harsh criticism of Russian participants in the Olympics – after the controversial statement that caused emotions: “I don’t think…”
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