Ahead of Sunday’s women’s 30km mass start freestyle race at the 2022 Olympics, Therese Johaug from Norway announces that it will be the last Olympic start of her career.

“I know that I start my last Olympic race on Sunday,” says Johaug at a press conference before the 30km race.

Therese Johaug has already won two individual gold medals during the Beijing Olympics. On Sunday’s 30km, she is a favorite and can take her third and last Olympic medal.

The 33-year-old Johaug says she has mixed feelings before Sunday’s race, which ends her Olympic career.

“It’s been my life for fifteen years. I have participated in three Olympics, and I know there will be no more Olympics for me. Sure, it’s a little sad to think about. This is the last time I will experience this. It is a special atmosphere and mood in an Olympics, which you do not get in a World Cup. It’s strange, but at the same time, I enjoy every second here,” she says.

However, Johaug is clear that she has not decided when she will quit, and a decision on that question will come at the earliest after the current season.

The men’s 50km mass start freestyle on Saturday, February 19, and the women’s 30km mass start freestyle on Sunday, February 20, are the next and last events for the cross-country skiers at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.   

FACTS: 2022 OLYMPICS 

 What: XXIV Olympic Winter Games (24th edition)

 Beijing 2022 – All you need to know 

 Where: Beijing, China

 Biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic events will take place at the Zhangjiakou arena, situated at and above 1650 meters above sea level. 

 When: February 4 to 20, 2022

 What happens when: 

 Complete schedule for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, all sports. 

 Who: 53 cross-country teams compete at the 2022 Olympics, each fielding from 1 to 16 athletes. 

 All the cross-country ski teams to the Beijing Winter Olympics 

 How: Where to watch the Olympics – World Wide

Results, start lists and competition details for all events at the 2022 Beijing Olympics will be posted here

Beijing Olympics homepage