This is confirmed by manager Jørn Ernst to VG.
– The decision on a comeback will come at the end of May or the beginning of June. That’s what she says herself, he says.
– For most other teams, the season starts around 1 May, can you say a little about why it can take so long?
– It’s because she has to train hard, try the training routine that she knows is required, try to get to the level she knows she has to be at, at the same time as she has the family situation she has. She will use the time until the end of May or June to test out training a lot.
– On 26 April, the national teams are selected. So we don’t see Johaug there?
– No, the decision will not be made before then, says Jørn Ernst.
The speculation surrounding a possible Therese Johaug comeback in next year’s WC season has been going on ever since she gave up skiing in 2022 and became a mother in May 2023.
But they have escalated throughout the winter and especially after Johaug’s strong competitive return during National Championship part 2 at the end of March.
There she smashed the rest of Norway’s elite so much that it took the motivation from one of the country’s best runners.
The result created a strong debate which ended with NRK expert Martin Johnsrud Sundby being called “totally ignorant”.
In the end, her husband Nils Jakob Hoff also had to admit that he “has no idea”.
And those who follow cross-country skiing still have to wait a long time for an answer.
After the strong victory during the NM a week and a half ago, the former cross-country queen said the following about her comeback thoughts:
– It was really fun to go cross-country skiing, it’s a step on the way. But one thing is the sporting aspect, I got good confirmation of that now. Then it’s my gut feeling that has to be 120 percent right. It should feel right at home too, and it is rooted in a bad conscience that can creep in. I have to feel that it is right there.
When VG asked in the same interview if there was any doubt whether she was going to bet as a national team skier in the Norwegian Ski Association, or if she was toying with other thoughts such as bet privately, Johaug answered as follows:
– I haven’t made much of a decision about it yet. I have been successful in the national team before, so it is certainly relevant.
– Can you say something about the dialogue with the Norwegian Ski Association?
– We have had a close dialogue with the Skiing Association over a period now and it is fantastic, says Jørn Ernst today.
