Therese Johaug retired from her professional skiing career after the Olympic season in 2022. Since then, there has been speculation about whether she would return. Last year, she became a mother for the first time. She got married on New Year. On Monday, it was announced that Johaug will compete in international ski races again. On March 3, the 35-year-old will start in the 42-kilometer-long Engadin Skimarathon for women in Switzerland.

Also Read: Therese Johaug registered for a long-distance skiing race

But what about the World Championships in Granåsen and the World Cup?

“I must honestly admit that it triggers me that it’s the first 50km race for women in a World Championship and takes place in Trondheim, on home ground. I have never competed in a 50km race in either the World Cup or championships before,” Johaug told VG.

The former cross-country skier also reveals that there are certain things she’s not as keen on:

“I don’t want to compete in many World Cup races and the Tour de Ski… I’m totally done with that! I can say I will not participate in that anymore. Sprint? Oh my God,” says Johaug rhetorically.

Mother’s heart 

But as much as the World Championships and the 50km race are tempting, something is weighing on her: the mother’s heart. Johaug admits that she feels guilty. It’s no longer just about going out for a training session or traveling away because she will compete in a ski race in Trondheim.

But many of the practical aspects are still in place. For example, she has never withdrawn from ADAMS, which is the whereabouts system of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This means that doping testers can still test her at any time, and she must still inform WADA of her whereabouts.

This was particularly a problem for Petter Northug when he was making an international comeback. The same was true for Marit Bjørgen. The latter just managed to finish her quarantine period before she was set to compete in Vasaloppet.

Also Read: Therese Johaug: Comeback makes national team skiers nervous

Ski fleet is ready

Johaug thinks much has stayed the same since she retired and has asked her ski technician to take good care of her skis.

She is also maintaining her training. But the 35-year-old clearly shows that if she is going to commit again, she needs to adjust, and she can’t go back to the same regime she had before she retired.

“I might need to do more intervals, fewer long sessions than before. And then I can live a lot on my old training.”

She also has the green light from her husband, Nils Jakob Hoff. Now, it’s the conscience that needs to be in place. Therese Johaug tells VG that she still needs to set a deadline.

The Ski World Championships in Trondheim will be held from February 26 to March 9, 2025.

20.02.2024 Photo: Johaug