Therese Johaug's husband opens up about her return to skiing and its cost – hints at a surprise for the future

TRONDHEIM.

At the 2023 World Championships in Planica, Therese Johaug had previously peaked her career by finally achieving individual Olympic victory in Beijing, winning three medals. In March 2022, she announced her retirement from competitive skiing.

In March 2022, Therese Johaug concluded her career in front of her home crowd at Holmenkollen with victory in her 81st World Cup race.

In November 2024, Ruka was bustling in front of Norway's support truck. Therese Johaug returned to the World Cup. Photo: Tomi Hänninen / Yle

The 34-year-old skiing legend, who was pregnant, worked as an expert at NRK during the 2023 World Championships in Planica, and when asked about a possible return to competition, she did not entertain any ideas at all.

It is quite rare for reporters to return to the side of elite competitors at valuable competitions.

In the same year, Johaug married her long-time partner Nils Jakob Hoff. Their daughter Kristin turns two in the summer.

Nils Jakob Hoff (left) won the double sculls World Championship with Kjetil Borch in Changwon, South Korea, in 2013. He represented Norway at the Olympics twice. Photo: EPA

"And now we are here"

– "And now we are here," laughed Hoff in an interview with Yle Sports at a hotel in Trondheim on Thursday.

At the time of the interview, Johaug had achieved two silver medals at the World Championships in Trondheim, narrowly losing two golds to Ebba Andersson by a total margin of 1.3 seconds.

The upcoming events include Friday's 4x7.5 kilometer relay and the women's debut of the 50 kilometer event.

Nils Jakob Hoff (left) won the double sculls World Championship with Kjetil Borch in Changwon, South Korea, in 2013. He represented Norway at the Olympics twice. Photo: EPA

"What will happen next is for her to reveal," he added.

It is apparent that this level of a return for a competitive athlete will also have significant financial implications for Johaug herself.

This fact determined

"If Therese was worried about my perspective, it was unnecessary. I am really glad that she gets to continue doing what she loves. Our daughter may not have memories from this time, which is why we take a lot of pictures," Hoff said.

He explains that the decisive factor for this love of the sport, however, was not the fact that the World Championships are held in her home province’s major city of Trondheim.

– What has fascinated her more is the idea of the 50-kilometer race, as the distance would have suited her characteristics long ago.

The human cost is high, as Johaug has not seen her daughter for over a month due to worries about illness.

Sailing World Champion

Hoff, who grew up and studied in Bergen, is himself a former elite athlete in the harsh endurance sport: a rowing world champion, double Olympic representative, and an avid admirer of Pertti Karppinen, a three-time Olympic winner in single sculls.

– Karppinen is a perfect icon in our sport.

Hoff humorously admits that his own background as an athlete makes living with the other top athlete very easy.

– I have led a similar life – a lot of lactate, two daily workouts, total discipline, avoiding illness, strict diet, and long absences from home. I would call it professional egoism.

– I can understand that Therese does not love her family and loved ones any less, even if she must make decisions that people outside the realm of elite sports would consider completely selfish.

The crucible 2016–18

In her autobiography Hele historien (written by Anders Skjerdingstad) published in 2022, Johaug hints quite explicitly that she wouldn't have survived mentally without her husband during the years 2016–18.

At that time, she was banned for 18 months due to a doping offense.

– I am proud of Therese and pleased that I could help her. In the championships of 2017 and 2018, the top woman skier was once again Marit Bjørgen, who also gave birth before her return project. The families live almost as neighbors in Oslo’s Holmenkollen, Hoff reveals.

During the Planica World Championships in 2023, Therese Johaug worked as an expert for Norway’s public television NRK. The idea of a return project started to mature during the summer of the following year. Photo: Tomi Hänninen

Originally Johaug was only to return for the World Championship season, but even her husband, an anesthetist, is no longer sure about this.

Return out of love

– I would say the situation is currently 50–50. If Therese also secures silver in the 50 kilometers on Sunday, she may very well secure the Olympic target by Monday, Hoff smiles.

He particularly wants to emphasize one thing. A lot of retired top athletes return to the sport because the life outside of sports didn’t offer anything memorable.

– Therese has been incredibly active and employed. This return is only due to her love for skiing.

– And she doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore with her achievements. The only pressure comes from within.

When it comes to Therese Johaug, a 36-year-old athlete who has been away for two seasons, it feels odd that a two-silver medal haul has been considered a disappointment by many.

– This matter can certainly be seen that way. On the other hand, it is wonderful that the audience still believes and knows that Therese can win at this level.

In the combined event, Ebba Andersson defeated Therese Johaug after a long photo finish examination.

Therese Johaug’s arrival at the finish line in the 10-kilometer (p) race. Again, a narrow defeat to Ebba Andersson.

In 2011, Johaug took her first individual championship victory on the final individual race, the 30 kilometers (v) at the Oslo World Championships.

The circle could beautifully close if the last victory came in Johaug’s second home championship in the women’s first 50 kilometers race.