Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is back in the Norwegian national team after a season on the outside. This is what the 27-year-old says about his return and expectations.

Last year, there was a lot of noise and unrest surrounding the Norwegian national team selection, not least because the world’s best cross-country skier, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, chose to stay outside the national team in favor of private pursuits.

The world champion’s decision not to join the national team was complex, involving marketing rights, training programs, and values. Despite six months of negotiations between Klæbo’s team and the Ski Federation, the parties couldn’t reach an agreement.

Now, according to Langrenn.com, Klæbo is back in the team after a season of private pursuits. It became clear on April 12. This is what the 27-year-old says about the season and ambitions, with the 2025 World Championships at home being the obvious highlight.

“It feels good to be back on the team. I’m looking forward to a World Championship season and hopefully a bit more peace and focus on what we’re going to do,” Klæbo says in connection with the national team presentation.

“Everyone understands that when you stand on the start line at a World Championship on home soil, you naturally want to compete for the medals. That’s the only thing that matters. I’m not going to Trondheim with the goal of aiming for the top 10.”

The story continues below.

The Norwegian national team coach: “We need to be flexible”

In connection with the selection, national team coach Ulf Morten Aune commented on the process of getting Klæbo back in the team. He says that maintaining the national team model was an important consideration in the process.

“We want to preserve the national team model. It’s incredibly important. It finances everything we do in Norwegian cross-country skiing. Times change, so we need to be flexible. When everyone wants to, we can make it happen,” says Aune.

On Wednesday, the Ski Federation presented all the elite cross-country ski teams for 2024/25. Klæbo will be one of 11 men. New this year is that both sprint and distance skiers on the men’s side are gathered on one elite team. The team is led by sprint coach Arild Monsen and Eirik Myhr Nossum.

Also Read: Norwegian national cross-country skiing team for the season 2024/2025