Johannes Høsflot Klæbo reacts with disbelief to Frida Karlsson and her comments. “I don’t believe it,” says the Norwegian cross-country skiing star.

A couple of weeks ago, Karlsson stated that she has decided when she will retire. The 24-year-old, who is by far one of the world’s best female cross-country skiers, has said that she will retire in three years.

By then, she will have had three major championship seasons under her belt: First, the World Championships on her rivals’ home turf in Trondheim next winter, then the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina, and finally, the World Championships on home turf in Falun in 2027.

“There’s more to life than cross-country skiing,” said Karlsson when she announced the shocking news.

At the same time, Karlsson points out that she has no lack of motivation. She is looking forward to the three years ahead, not least because the World Championships will be held in Trondheim next season.

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Last winter, Karlsson crushed everyone in the 50km race at Holmenkollen. She’s looking forward to repeating that at the World Championships in Trondheim and welcoming Therese Johaug back. Incidentally, Karlsson is one of the few who has beaten Johaug before.

Read More – Karlsson to Johaug: “Welcome back”

Karlsson’s comment raised eyebrows

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo doubts that Karlsson will be able to stick to that schedule.

“We’ll see; I’d like to see her quit if she wins more World Championship gold in 2027. I have to say that,” Klæbo says to Nettavisen and adds:

“It will be exciting to see what she chooses. I’ll be surprised if she retires if she wins more World Championships gold. It’s probably a way of telling herself I can give up that day. Whether she does is another matter.”

Klæbo has not set an end date for himself. The 27-year-old, who already has 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, including five Olympic golds and nine World Championship golds, is not fully satisfied.

“I’m going to keep going as long as it’s fun,” says the superstar.

After the three championship seasons ahead, Klæbo will still only be 30 years old.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is now back in the Norwegian national team after a year of private commitment. He has recently completed his first training camp of the season. It took place in Sognefjellet in the last week of May and will be one of the few national team gatherings he will attend before the season starts in Beitostølen in November.

Read More: Klæbo reveals his World Championships plans