Oslo (dpa) – One day after she announced her retirement, cross-country skier Therese Johaug won her 99th World Cup and crowned her career with a brilliant finale.
The 33-year-old pulled away after a little more than five kilometers in the mass start over 30 kilometers in Oslo and then did her laps individually on the famous Holmenkollen. In the end, her lead over Finn Krista Parmakoski was only 19 seconds. But that was due to Johaug’s triumph in the last few meters.
The three-time Olympic champion from Beijing received two Norwegian flags shortly before entering the sun-drenched stadium and completed the last meters like a hobby runner. Immediately before the finish line, Johaug turned to the audience, bowed and then ended the race. Immediately afterwards, the best cross-country skier of recent years cried.
“Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman was shown in the stadium. Of the 99 victories she got 81 in singles and 18 in teams. “Blue sky and a lot of spectators: I’m just so happy and at the same time so sad that my career is over now,” said Johaug in the subsequent interview with the winner. She foregoes the last stop in Falun, Sweden.
With the words “Actually, I don’t want the journey to end, but there is a time for everything” Johaug announced the end of her career via Instagram on Friday. Swede Jonna Sundling was third behind Johaug and Parmakoski, Germany’s team sprint Olympic champion Katharina Hennig took fifth place.