Therese Johaug Focuses on World Championships, Limiting World Cup Participation

Therese Johaug is gearing up for a comeback in competitive skiing, but with a concentrated strategy. The talented skier has decided to prioritize the World Championships in Trondheim next season, significantly limiting her World Cup participation to just four races. Notably, she has chosen to forgo events such as the one in Falun.

Johaug emphasizes her independence in maintaining her competitive edge, stating, "I don't rely on others for competition to stay at my best level."

Her primary focus is the World Championships on home ground, and she intends to compete in select races as preparation. Her schedule includes two events at the national skiing season opener in Beitostølen, followed by two races at the World Cup kickoff in Ruka, and another two in Lillehammer.

In addition, Johaug plans to take part in two events at the Norwegian Championships in Hamar. However, she will skip significant competitions like the Tour de Ski, along with races in France, Switzerland, and Falun after the New Year.

"It's not much. In other words, I have to test everything out before Christmas," Johaug explained, highlighting her need to secure strong results for World Championship qualification. This approach mirrors her strategy prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she competed sparingly in the lead-up to the Games.

After retiring at the conclusion of the 2022 winter season, Johaug welcomed her daughter Kristin on Norway's National Day, May 17, 2023. Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, her competition calendar will feature events in Beitostølen, Ruka, Lillehammer, and possibly Davos and Hamar, with aspirations for the World Championships in Trondheim, where she aims to compete in events such as the 20 km skiathlon, 10 km classic, 4x7.5 km relay, and 50 km freestyle.