“Otherwise I’ll regret it later”
Ski star moves into a lonely hut for the World Cup – without her family
Updated on January 20, 2025 – 9:25 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Cross Country World Championships start in Trondheim in February. Therese Johaug is also there, who even gives up her family for her big goal.
After a two-year break, Therese Johaug has been part of the cross-country skiing World Cup again this season. The four-time Olympic champion from Norway is currently fourth in the overall World Cup and is back at the top. She also wants that at the home World Cup in February. And now she has made a painful decision. Because Johaug moves into a lonely hut near Lillehammer and goes without her family for several weeks. She told the Norwegian TV station NRK.
“It’s quiet and peaceful there and there are ski slopes right outside the door,” explained Johaug. “I won’t worry about anything else in the cabin in Sjusjøen. I’m just thinking about the World Cup.” In addition, the risk of getting sick is much lower.
With the new focus, Johaug wants to attack the top again. There are still World Cups taking place in Switzerland, Italy and Sweden before the World Cup, but she will only be there in Falun, Sweden. Everything is geared towards the World Cup. It is difficult for her to give up her husband and her 20-month-old daughter. In an interview with NRK, she reported a guilty conscience, but added: “At the same time, I also know that I have to make the right decisions in order to prepare optimally. If I don’t do that, I will regret it afterwards.”
The 36-year-old said she will spend the rest of her life with her husband and child and the next time will only be short-lived. This makes it easier to focus on the World Cup. “If I went to bed while she was in the playroom shouting ‘Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,’ I would feel guilty.” Due to Johaug’s absence, little Kristin will now be in kindergarten more often.
However, the Olympic champion is unlikely to be completely without her family. “Maybe Kristin and Nils will visit me in the hut,” she told NRK. But that is not certain. The Johaug family will be reunited again by March 9th at the latest, because then the World Cup ends.