“Everyone should fear Therese (Johaug) in a possible comeback because it’s going to happen,” says Ingvild Flugstad Østberg.

Earlier this week, Therese Johaug revealed that she has not ruled out a comeback to the 2025 World Championships in her home country. Everyone knows that if the 35-year-old makes a comeback at the World Championships in 18 months, it will be because she knows she will be good enough to compete for gold. 

The former national team teammate would like to have Johaug back on the team. Even though she managed perfectly well without the queen of cross-country skiing in the driver’s seat last winter, she undeniably left a void. 

“I think a Johaug comeback would be very good. I would love to have Therese Johaug back on the team. She was a good teammate that we miss having in everyday life,” says Tiril Udnes Weng to VG. 

The 26-year-old, who won the overall World Cup this winter, admits that she fears it will be much harder to compete if Johaug takes the comeback idea seriously. 

“Therese will be a tough competitor if she makes a comeback, so I would probably be a little extra nervous with Therese at the start,” says Udnes Weng.

The same goes for national team veteran Ingvild Flugstad Østberg. She was on the national team with Johaug for ten years.

“Anyone and everyone should fear Therese in a possible comeback,” says Flugstad Østberg.

Therese Johaug retired from the top level after the 2022 Olympic season. During her 15-year World Cup career, she won 14 World Championships gold medals. In addition, she has four Olympic gold medals in her collection. In her last three major championships (2019 World Championships, 2021 World Championships and 2022 Olympics), she won all nine distance races.

However, her competitors may not need to worry. When the discussion about a possible comeback for the 2025 World Championships came up, Johaug said she had no concrete plans. The only thing she confirmed was that she would not rule it out.  

Also Read: Therese Johaug takes an important role in Team Eksjöhus and Team Aker Dæhlie’s new project

Helene Marie Fossesholm believes the 35-year-old will only make a comeback if she is sure she can compete for gold. 

“Nothing has been decided, but one thing that is reasonably certain is that she won’t be competing for tenth place,” says Fossesholm.

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