Therese Johaug to Compete in Sprint After 1,492 Days: "I'm Scared"

After a lengthy hiatus from sprint competitions, Therese Johaug is gearing up to participate in her first sprint at the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy. It has been 1,492 days since she last competed in a World Cup sprint event back in Ruka, Finland, in 2020.

"Oh god! I’m scared," the Norwegian athlete joked during a press conference ahead of the competition. While Johaug excels in distance events, her past sprint performances have not been as impressive, marking a significant challenge for her return.

Initially, Johaug planned to skip the Tour de Ski but decided against it, recognizing the need for more competitive experience before the upcoming World Championships in Trondheim. She explained, "Initially, I wanted to abstain from the Tour, but I realized I needed more races under my belt before our home World Championship."

The Tour de Ski starts this Saturday with the sprint event in free technique. Johaug hopes to gain valuable competition experience despite her nerves, emphasizing that there is ample time for recovery after the Tour, should any health issues arise.

Stay tuned for more updates as Johaug makes her return to the competitive sprint scene!