Therese Johaug discusses marathon ambitions as federation chief weighs options
Norway's athletics federation chief Hanne Lyngstad said she has spoken with Therese Johaug, but the former skier is not yet being considered for the national team.
Therese Johaug ran a 1:08:43 half-marathon in Copenhagen, ranking as the fourth-quickest time for a Norwegian woman and the fastest European in that race. In a recent podcast, she hinted at aiming for a marathon slot at the 2028 Summer Olympics, with the Valencia marathon mentioned as a possible debut. Hanne Lyngstad, the new head of Norges Friidrettsforbund, confirmed she has been in contact with Johaug but emphasized that only her half-marathon effort has been evaluated, so she is not currently under consideration for the national team.
Lyngstad added that additional dialogue could occur if Johaug pursues the marathon distance. Fellow elite runner Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal expressed admiration for Johaug’s achievement, describing her as a "superhuman" athlete. The federation expects to monitor Johaug’s progress as the Olympic cycle advances.
Why it matters
Johaug's potential shift to marathon running could reshape Norway's athletics lineup for future Olympic Games.
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