Today, Therese Johaug, from Norway, announced that she will end her career as a top-class cross-country skier after this season. Tomorrow, Johaug starts at her last 30km at the Holmenkollen World Cup.

 “The time has come to focus on a life outside of top sports,” Johaug writes on Instagram.

The Norwegian Ski Association also writes the following in a press release where Johaug makes a short statement:

“Therese Johaug has been on and off the ski track through a fantastic skiing career. Tomorrow she starts in Holmenkollen to ski her last 30km in the national team uniform, the home arena where she took her first World Cup gold in the distance 11 years ago on the day.”

“There are still some ski races left for the season to be completed, but now it’s time to start focusing on life outside of top sports,” Johaug says in the press release.

Saturday’s race in Holmenkollen will be Johaug’s last 30km in the Norwegian national team colors.

“In many ways, it feels like the circle closes now on Saturday when I stand on the starting line for another 30km in Holmenkollen. I really do not want the trip to end, but there is a time for everything, and I think it is time for me to do something other than invest full time in cross-country skiing,” Therese writes further on Instagram.

The 33-year-old Johaug has won 14 World Championships gold medals in her career. At the Beijing Olympics, she won the first individual Olympic gold of her career, in a total of three at the end of the Olympic Games.

There is much to suggest that we will see Therese Johaug starting some Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour events for Team Ragde Charge at the end of the season, such as Birkebeinerrennet and Reistadlöpet.