Speculation about Therese Johaug’s return has been rife for some time. On Saturday evening, Johaug confirmed that she is tempted in a comeback for next year’s World Championships.

In an interview after Engadin Skimarathon, Johaug confirmed that she is preparing for the World Championships in her home country of Norway in a year.

“I want and hope to be there. But of course, there is a lot of work to do,” the 35-year-old athlete said in an interview at the Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland last Saturday.

Johaug ended her professional career after the 2022 Olympic season. Since then, there has been speculation whether she will make a comeback to the tracks. Last year, she became a mother, and she married on New Year’s Eve.

The Engadin Skimarathon interview was published on Saturday evening before she returned to international ski racing. On Sunday, she won the 17km Engadin Frauenlauf by a significant margin. It was her first international ski race since competing at World Cup level almost two years ago.

At next year’s World Championships, Johaug’s ambitions would be especially in the 50km race.

“I am interested because it is the first 50km race for women in a World Championships, and it will take place in Trondheim, on home ground. I have never skied 50km at the World Championships or World Cup before,” Johaug tells VG.

Going for gold

Johaug reveals that her goal is not just to qualify for the World Championships but to win a medal.

“Nobody is happy if you finish fourth, and I know everyone is like that. You have to win gold, and that’s my goal, too,” she says in an interview with the Engadin Skimarathon.

At the same time, Johaug knows that she can’t just walk onto the Norwegian World Championships team; it takes work.

“If I’m going to compete in Trondheim, I must make the team. I don’t want to ski the World Cup all the way,” Johaug says in the interview.

An official decision will come later

Johaug’s manager, Jørn Ernst, is not revealing as much. He tells VG that no final decision has been made on a possible return but that a statement will be made soon.

In any case, most of the practicalities are in place. Johaug, for example, has always been included in the ADAMS anti-doping system. This means that doping testers can still test her at any time.

For example, after retiring, Petter Northug and Marit Bjørgen opted out of compulsory doping tests.

Johaug says that not much has changed since her retirement and that she is still in good shape. She has also asked for her skis to be well looked after.

Johaug has been training well all the time, but it is clear to her that if she really wants to compete again, she must take action. It is also not possible for her to live the same everyday life as an athlete as she did 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.”

Also Read: One thing stands between Therese Johaug and World Championships return

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