PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Everyone is talking about a comeback for Therese Johaug.
Now Petter Northug enters the debate about the queen’s return.
And reveals what it means for Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson.
It has been two years Therese Johaug ended his successful skiing career. After completely dominating the distance races for several years, the Norwegian ski queen chose to bow out and leave the throne free for new skiers.
Johaug returns
Since then we have seen Ebba Andersson become WC queen, both Frida Karlsson and Jessie Diggins win the Tour de Ski. At the same time as the Norwegian women’s national team got worse and worse and fell behind the world elite more and more.
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Johaug has had time to become the mother of a daughter in the meantime, but there has always been a spark of hope that she will return to the tracks again. 35 years old, it is now more relevant than ever and what attracts is the 2025 Ski World Championships on home ground in Trondheim and above all a historic five-mile race.
Northug admits
Many have spoken about a return for Johaug, with an incredible 14 World Cup golds to her credit, and she herself has not yet decided – but is clearly interested. Now gives up Peter Northug into the debate and says what he really thinks about a comeback for his former national team colleague.
– I’m a little unsure. We’re hoping for that, to be able to have Therese as an ace up our sleeve against the Swedish ladies in a tough five-mile in a WC on home ground, Northug admits to Radiosporten.
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During the weekend that was we got to see Frida Karlsson win the five-mile in Holmenkollen and Ebba Andersson come second. The Swedes are also said to be favorites in the WC five-mile if nothing unexpected happens, such as a certain Johaug suddenly standing on the starting field again.
– The five miles will have tough and long climbs, which suits Therese and which we know does not suit the Swedes. As we saw this weekend, I would love to have a strong Therese at the start to stand up to Frida and Ebba who are very good distance skiers, says Northug to the radio channel.
What do you think about a comeback for Johaug? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Frida Karlsson reveals great anger – when she saw what Kristine Stavås Skistad did in the middle of the sprint final: “It’s tragic”
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