PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The national team has stopped speculating about whether Therese Johaug will be on the starting line in the skiing World Cup in Trondheim, 2025.
– I expect her to come. It’s fun to have her back, says Frida Karlsson.
There has been long speculation about the former length dominant Therese Johaug will make a comeback at the WC in Trondheim this winter or not. But even if the Norwegian star has not announced anything, she is in any case on the retina too Frida Karlsson and many others.
– Three years ago, I entered the training year with a focus on how I could beat Johaug. Then I managed to beat her twice that season.
Johaug’s comeback
The question is, of course, in what condition the Norwegian is now.
– She is not superhuman, so I will not focus as much on her now as I did three years ago.
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But there is no doubt that there is power left. Last weekend she ran a half-marathon without having peaked and ran in 1.11.25, just over a minute over the Norwegian border to qualify for the Athletics EC.
– I saw it. She’s on her toes!
Can you Swedes help each other to beat her?
– Yes, we must take care of each other during this training year and make everyone better.
For Frida, it’s about continuing on the path she set out last season, with a heavier load on training.
– I believe in it very much. I went into last season thinking that I would develop as a skier and had the WC in mind even then. That season was allowed to go as it wanted, I would get better as a skater and the results were secondary. I became more consistent during the season.
Frida’s new message
Now it will give another dimension when there is a championship to compete in.
– Yes, now I will add a peak to last year’s evenness. I won’t go as much for the sprints as I did last year, says the Sollefteå rider.
So don’t count on any fight in the overall in the World Cup. And entering a WC without VC victories should not worry either.
– I will not prioritize the World Cup, but will of course drive. I am confident about where I will be before the WC and will go into, for example, Ruka with a high load and it is okay that it is not going like the train.
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Her closest national team mate Maja Dahlqvist have even chosen to move to Trondheim in order to prepare for the WC in the best way.
Fitting for Maja
Frida was not slow to invite herself.
– There is a room, haha. I’m going there in a few weeks, get to know the city a bit, meet Maja and train. There will probably be many hours of training there during the season. It is both fun and good to be there and train and get to know the track even better.
Then we’ll see what home skater Johaug can counter with.
– I will do everything in my power to beat her. We know what basic capacity she has and we’ll see how 50 kilometers goes, we’ve only met her at 30 kilometers before. Long distances are her element, so we want to challenge her there, says Frida Karlsson.
What do you think of a comeback for Therese Johaug? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Linn Svahn now opens up about the great success year – and is praised by all Swedes: “It’s a joy to see…”
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