Cross-country World Cup dominator Thérèse Johaug of Norway ended her career in March, which pleased her rivals and even her compatriots. They believe that without it, the discipline will become more interesting because the chances will be equal.
“Sorry Thérèse, when you announced the end of your career, I cried, but I think that without you the race will become more interesting for the fans, and especially for us, because we will not only fight for second place. ” – said Norwegian Tiril Udnes Weng.
She added that when it comes to ratings, the most fascinating thing for viewers is the joint race. “When Therese started, she set such a pace from the start that it was obvious who would win. Now the fight will be more relaxed throughout the race. We love each other very much and we will miss her, but her departure is actually good for us sport” – she admitted.
Another Norwegian, Anne Kjersti Kalva, said Johaug’s absence from the national team brought up strange feelings, as she was a great friend and inspired other players both sportingly and socially.
“On the other hand, the women’s races will become more interesting, since 10 to 15 runners will qualify for the victory”, she underlined.
Finka Krista Parmakoski believes that without Johaug, running will attract more viewers because after their careers were stopped by “the great rivals who drive the sport” Justyna Kowalczyk and Marit Bjoergen in 2018, its dominance has become boring. “With all due respect to Therese, it will be a breakthrough now,” she noted.
Johaug sat out the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons due to a doping disqualification, but on her return she dominated the sport, winning three world championship gold medals in Seefeld in 2019 and four two years later in Oberstdorf. She also became a three-time champion at this year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. During her career, she won the World Cup three times, with 80 individual victories.
Therefore, as Swedish cross-country manager Anders Bystroem stated in the pages of the Norwegian daily “Dagbladet”, the upcoming season without Johaug will be special and completely different.
“Without this, the competition will be even, and considering that American women have become very strong in recent years, interest in cross-country skiing will certainly increase in their country, which in turn is very important for the FIS in terms of audience thinks it will be similar in Germany. One athlete’s dominance is never good,” he stressed.
KN, PAP
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