Therese Johaug's domination in Norwegian season opener

Therese Johaug made a stunning return to competition in the Norwegian season opener, dominating the 10-kilometer race. The 36-year-old athlete finished with an impressive lead of nearly 40 seconds over her nearest rival.

Initially appearing nervous as she stepped onto the stadium in Beitostølen, Johaug quickly shook off her pre-race jitters. Despite grabbing the wrong poles before the start and struggling with sleep the night before, she managed to focus and excel in the race. "I woke up last night and couldn’t get back to sleep, thinking about the race," she told NRK.

Once the race began, Johaug demonstrated her exceptional skill, leading from the start and maintaining her position all the way to the finish line. She clocked in 39.6 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Heidi Weng, with Kristin Austgulen Fosnäs taking third.

Following her victory, Johaug expressed satisfaction with her performance, confident that she's capable of achieving even more in upcoming races. This marks her return to top-level competition after a two-year hiatus, during which she became a mother.

With the World Championships set to take place in Trondheim next February, Johaug has made it clear she’s preparing to compete at her best. The World Cup kicks off in Ruka next weekend as the competitive season unfolds.