Johannes Hösflot Kläbo leaves the national team.
Now he reveals the reason behind the shock decision.
– My friends have been treated badly, says the star.
There are few skaters who can measure up to Johannes Hösflot Kläbo when it comes to both success and star status. He has won Olympic gold, World Cup gold and countless World Cup victories, and is one of Norway’s most popular athletes.
The explanation for the shock announcement
It is therefore a well-publicized announcement that came on Sunday evening in our neighboring country. There have been rumors that Johannes Kläbo will leave the national team for a venture of his own, and yesterday the news was confirmed. Leaving the national team is something that Petter Northug did during his career, but now Kläbo is doing the same thing.
And his explanation is rock hard to say the least. Kläbo believes that his defection will enable a better and fairer investment for his colleagues.
– With my resignation, the ski association has opportunities to lower its costs and instead spend money on other athletes. Yes, now they won’t have to pay for my altitude stays either. I have several friends in the national team who I feel have been treated badly in this selection process, he says in a press release.
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The national team’s response
Norway has previously had the practice of not taking skaters outside the national team to the World Cup, but now they will have no choice but to change that.
– We hope and believe that they will change this, so that I can go to the World Cup next season, if I am good enough to compete, says Kläbo.
The economy has been under pressure in the Norwegian national team, and it is something that Kläbo emphasizes in the press release. At the same time, the national team believes that they would have liked to have kept him.
– We respect this decision. At the same time, it is important to underline that we naturally wish to have him remain in the national team. We were positive about meeting the possible requirements for Johannes in the coming season as well, says national team manager Espen Bjervig.
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