Frida Karlsson has defeated Therese Johaug three times before. The Swedish traditional cross-country skier wants to repeat that in the World Championships next winter. After the Holmenkollen 50km yesterday, Karlsson is full of confidence.

Frida Karlsson won the 50km race in Holmenkollen, Oslo – Norway, in solid style on Saturday morning. The Swedish star dreams of defeating Therese Johaug again, now in the 50km race at the Trondheim World Championships next winter. 

If there is anyone who has the opportunity and potential to do it, it is Karlsson.

The 24-year-old from Sollefteå, Sweden, is one of the few skiers who has defeated Therese Johaug. She has done it three times. 

The first is the one Karlsson remembers best. It was the 30km in Holmenkollen in 2020, the last ski race before the pandemic. There, she beat Johaug by 1.2 seconds. 

The next time was in the 10-kilometer during the World Cup opening in Ruka in November 2021, and then she beat Johaug over the same distance in Lillehammer a week later. 

The Norwegian cross-country skier retired after the 2022 Olympic season. Last year, she became a mother for the first time. But now it is speculated that Johaug will return for next year’s World Championships on home turf. 

Also Read: Will we see Therese Johaug at next year’s World Championships?

That triggers Frida Karlsson. 

Before Saturday’s 50km in Holmenkollen, Karlsson had skied 30 km, the longest distance she had ever done in a World Cup. But she passed the longer distance with flying colors. When she made a move after 30km, no one followed.

“It really starts after half the race. So, after the skis change, I thought I’d fire up the grill and then grill the others a bit. I’m quite surprised when I get that gap outright, but then I think nobody wins if they are cowards. Then I stepped on the gas,” says Karlsson. 

The 24-year-old quickly got a gap in the large group that had followed since the start. Five kilometers later, Karlsson had over half a minute over the chase.

“I was pretty good on the first lap, and I got a minute in a fairly short time. But then I had to struggle a bit in the last one. But they never brought me back either.” 

With ten kilometers to go, Karlsson led by over a minute. At the finish, the difference was 1:19.3. Then, Swedish teammate Ebba Andersson finished second and secured a double Swedish podium at Holmenkollen.

Read More: Karlsson wins the 50km race at the Holmenkollen World Cup

What do you think Therese Johaug thought when she saw you win with a convincing form?

“That is a good question. I don’t know what she’s thinking. But I think it was really nice to be here today (yesterday),” says Karlsson to Langrenn.com. 

How do you see the potential duel with her in the World Championships next year?

“She is very welcome back. I look forward to a duel.”

Also Read: Cross-country skiing expert: “Johaug just needs one good race, and she’s in the team” 

The Swedish expert commentator, Tomas Pettersson at Expressen, is quite sure how it would have gone if Therese Johaug had been on the starting line: She would have been beaten by Frida Karlsson for the second time in Holmenkollen. 

“Therese Johaug would have had no chance today,” says Pettersson to Dagbladet, and added:

“Therese is on her way back, but it’s one thing to race well in racing tests, but it’s quite another to go skiing like Frida Karlsson is doing today (yesterday).”

Petter Northug is also very impressed. 

“It’s pure class,” says the Northug, a cross-country skiing expert on TV2.