Ahead of the Olympics in Italy, Norwegian superstar Therese Johaug told NRK that Frida Karlsson had not developed since the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Karlsson responded by winning Olympic gold in skiathlon at the start of the current Winter Games.
On Thursday, Johaug followed up on her statement in her podcast “Gukild & Johaug,” which she runs together with Emil Gukild. There she explained what she meant.
– She was predicted to be the new Marit Björgen and would take the throne after me and Marit, and I don’t think she did. She is very unstable, said Johaug and continued:
– Your top race is great. She beat me in the five miles in Granåsen last year and she beat me in the 10 kilometers in Kuusamo before the Beijing Olympics. But then, the following weekend, she is suddenly tenth, then first, then fifth, then 20th and breaks the Tour de Ski.
At the same time, Johaug said that she thinks Karlsson is a great athlete who contributes to the duel between Sweden and Norway.
– She shouldn’t be made bad about. I just meant that she’s a little up and down. Frida knows that too.
Later on Thursday Frida Karlsson won her second Olympic gold in 2026 after a dominant performance in the freestyle mile race.
After the competition, the SVT reporter asked Karlsson what she thought about Johaug saying on NRK after the race that she believes Karlsson will win the remaining races of this year’s Olympics.
– She turns around quickly. “I haven’t developed for four years,” Karlsson replied with a smile on her face and a gold hat she received from “Norwegian media” on her head.
Read more:
Johan Esk: Enjoy the party – the curse of success threatens after the World Cup in Falun
Again Olympic gold for the superior Frida Karlsson – new Swedish medal double
