Both Olympic and World Championship doors swing wide open for Therese Johaug, as conversations are revealed.

Therese Johaug was the fastest European woman at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in September, finishing with a time of 1:08:43. In the World Championship category, that would have placed her 19th.

After the race, the 38-year-old hinted that she is tempted by the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, specifically in the marathon. On Saturday, Johaug followed up with another impressive performance, becoming the second-fastest woman ever in a 10-kilometer road race by winning the Hytteplanmila.

Also Read – Johaug reveals: Debuting in another distance

Opening Olympic and World Championship doors wide

Last week, it was confirmed that Therese Johaug has signed up for the Valencia Marathon. The race, scheduled for December 6, will be her first marathon and also her first opportunity to meet the Olympic qualifying standard. For women, the qualifying time for the Los Angeles Olympics is set at 2:23:20.

“It’s super exciting for us that Therese has signed up. She radiates energy, and I have only heard good things about her. I hope she can find her place in athletics and be a positive contributor,” says Hanne Lyngstad to NTB.

Now she is opening both the Olympic and World Championship doors wide for Johaug.

“Therese could definitely be a contender for both the Olympics in Los Angeles and the World Championship in the 10,000 meters in Beijing next year,” says Lyngstad.

Revealing conversations

Lyngstad has already spoken with Johaug’s coach, Sindre Buraas. She now confirms that she has also scheduled conversations with Johaug.

“We have agreed to sit down and talk together,” she says.

Norway can field three athletes in all athletics events at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“That’s what’s great about athletics; there are qualifying standards. There’s a set of criteria that applies to all athletes, and we can have three athletes in every event, which is essentially the starting point,” says Lyngstad.

Together with assistant sports director Per Arne Botnan, who joined this spring after exiting as head coach of the biathlon federation, Lyngstad has a clear plan moving forward.

“We need to ensure that we can also harvest medals in the future. We have a strategy that focuses on developing athletes who can win medals in senior championships. It’s important that we have strong juniors, but even more crucial that they excel as seniors, says Lyngstad.

Also Read – Andersson warns Johaug: “Can her body handle it?”

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