Spectacular Turnaround for Winter Sports Superstar?

Spectacular Turnaround for Winter Sports Superstar?

Norwegian cross-country skiing queen Therese Johaug asks Norway's monarch if she should compete in the Olympics, and the king gives a clear answer.

König Harald has significantly shaken the retirement plans of winter sports superstar Therese Johaug. During a palace meeting, the monarch greeted her with the question, "Yes, will there be something - or not?" Johaug revealed this and asked for advice on whether she should compete in the Olympics. The king simply answered, "Yes, do it."

The 36-year-old Johaug had previously made a comeback last season and celebrated six World Cup victories. However, at the World Championships, she only secured three silver medals and one bronze. Johaug has already won four Olympic gold medals, three of them in Beijing 2022, and she is now considering extending her career until the 2026 Olympics in Milan.

After her recent home race in Oslo, Johaug gave the impression that her career might be over, stating: "I feel like it's over now - it would take a lot for me to start another season again." However, it now seems that everything is back on the table.

• "So far, I was 99 percent sure that I would retire. Now it has become a little less than that," Johaug admitted. King Harald, a keen winter sports fan, also encouraged her to continue at a recent gala dinner. Moreover, her husband, Nils Jakob Hoff, has been trying to persuade her every day: "But I'm not sure." A decision will be made later this month.