Therese Johaug's Painful Memory of Losing to Frida Karlsson at Holmenkollen 2020

In her autobiography, Therese Johaug opens up about a pivotal moment in her career—the heart-wrenching loss in the 30km race at Holmenkollen in 2020 to Sweden's Frida Karlsson. Leading the race, Johaug was unexpectedly overtaken by Karlsson in a dramatic final sprint, marking the latter's first World Cup victory.

Johaug candidly expresses that this defeat remains a sore point for her. Reflecting on that race, she states, "I've never been so angry after a ski race. I still feel that anger when I think about it." The lack of clear communication from her waxing team regarding whether to change skis complicated her race strategy and contributed to the outcome.

This loss continues to haunt her, and Johaug admitted it felt "almost embarrassing" to still hold onto that anger of being defeated on her home turf. Although she later redeemed herself by winning the Holmenkollen 30km in subsequent years, the memory of losing to Karlsson is a lingering shadow in her mind. Through her book, she shares her personal experiences in the sport, giving readers insight into the emotional weight of competition.