Cross-country skiing: Therese Johaug experiences accident on treadmill before VM trial in Trondheim

Cross-country skiing: Therese Johaug experiences accident on treadmill before VM trial in Trondheim

Therese Johaug, the queen of skiing, had an unfortunate incident while training on the treadmill, leading to some serious bruising. A week after the incident, she smiles again despite the lasting soreness.

Johaug was set to participate in a roller skiing test race in Granåsen, which will host the World Championships in February and March. However, the race was called off due to slippery conditions, forcing her to find an alternative training solution that turned out to be risky.

Switching to a treadmill seemed like a safer option, but the veteran sled down a path filled with unexpected danger. “Guess who stumbled and fell off the treadmill while running? Yes, it was me,” she humorously admitted. Fortunately, Johaug managed to hit the emergency stop button with her shoulder just before she hit the ground. “I was really lucky. I fell at a slant, so the shoulder hit the emergency button, and it stopped,” she explained, emphasizing how it could have ended far worse.

Margrethe Bergane, Johaug’s teammate, witnessed the incident and expressed shock, saying, “There was a moment of panic when I saw her on the treadmill.” Thankfully, Johaug was quick to recover and participated in the rescheduled test race, where surprising situations unfolded again, though she ultimately won.

Note: Therese Johaug served as an expert for NRK during the last two seasons until she resumed her athlete career in early 2024.