Therese Johaug before season start: 'The total load has been too great'

Therese Johaug before season start: – The total load has been too great

Therese Johaug, the queen of cross-country skiing, is making her comeback after two seasons away from the World Cup scene. It hasn’t been an easy transition, especially with a new baby in the family.

Johaug admits that she struggled during October, leading to emotional moments. Her close friend, Marit Bjørgen, recognizes the toll of balancing family life and competitive sports, noting that it can lead to feelings of frustration and tears.

"I’ve felt exhausted this past October, and I think part of it was due to some illness that lingered. It’s been challenging managing training sessions around my family commitments," Johaug explained.

She expressed the pressure of trying to juggle her training schedule effectively, which led her to push herself too hard before she eventually had to pull the emergency brake. The upcoming season opener at Beitostølen presents a new opportunity for Johaug to demonstrate her readiness, as she feels better about her training now.

Despite the overwhelming feelings, Johaug is committed to giving her all and achieving her potential as she heads into the new competitive season, confident she can overcome the past challenges.