Quick Facts
Biography
Therese Johaug (born 25 June 1988) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed for the clubs Tynset IF and IL Nansen. In world championships she has won four individual gold medals along with three gold medals in relays and she is a three-time Olympic medallist.
Athletic career
After skiing some domestic races in the 2006 season, Johaug took part at the Norwegian Championships in 2007, winning a bronze at the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit event. She was selected for two World Cup races prior to the World Championships, finishing eighth and 33rd in two interval start races over 10 km, which was enough to be selected for competition in the 30 km distance at the 2007 Sapporo World Championships where she won a surprising bronze medal.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she won gold in the 4 x 5 km relay, came sixth in the 15 km pursuit and seventh in the 30 km mass start (classic) race.
Johaug won her first individual gold medal in the 30 km mass start race at the 2011 World Championships in Oslo. She also won gold in the 4 x 5 km relay, bronze in the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit and fourth in the 10 km individual start. At the 2013 World Championships she won her second individual gold medal in the 10 km freestyle race.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, she won the silver medal in the 30 km mass start (free) and the bronze medal in the 10 km classical, she also finished fourth in the 15 km skiathlon.
Johaug and compatriot Martin Johnsrud Sundby became the first Norwegians to win the Tour de Ski when they won the women's and men's competitions in the 2013-14 edition of the race. Johaug subsequently won the overall and distance competitions in the 2013–14 FIS Cross-Country World Cup.
She won the Birkebeinerrennet ski marathon in 2015 with a time of 2.41.46. That year she also enjoyed her most successful World Championship performance in Falun, where she took three gold medals: two in individual events (the 15km skiathlon and the 30km classic mass start) and one as part of the Norwegian women's team in the 4x5km relay.
Johaug followed her World Championship success with her best ever World Cup season in 2015-16, winning a second Tour de Ski by overturning a 39-second deficit to Ingvild Flugstad Østberg on the final stage to complete the climb up Alpe Cermis with a lead of 2 minutes 21 seconds over runner-up Østberg. She went on to capture the overall and distance World Cups, rounding off her season by winning the inaugural Ski Tour Canada in a similar fashion to her Tour de Ski win, eradicating Heidi Weng's 30 second lead on the final stage pursuit to take victory by over a minute.
Until 2016 Egil Kristiansen coached Johaug, and was described (by media) as "in reality her best coach ... [and he had] helped her master freestyle" skiing.
Doping
On 13 October 2016, it was made public that Johaug had tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In a press conference the same day, Johaug said that the presence of the substance was due to using the salve Trofodermin for her sore, sun burnt lips from 4 September to 15 September. The positive test was taken on 16 September. According to Johaug the salve had been handed over to her by the team's doctor Fredrik S. Bendiksen which at the press conference confirmed her story and said he had failed to notice that the salve contained a forbidden substance. Bendiksen resigned his position with immediate effect. On 19 October Johaug was suspended by Anti-Doping Norway for two months while the case was investigated further.
World Cup results
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Season titles
- 4 titles – (2 overall, 2 distance)
| Season | Discipline |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Overall |
| Distance | |
| 2016 | Overall |
| Distance |
World Cup standings
| Season | Age | Season Standings | Ski Tour Standings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | World Cup Final | Ski Tour Canada | ||
| 2007 | 18 | 44 | 23 | – | N/A | – | N/A | N/A |
| 2008 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 47 | N/A | 4 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 89 | N/A | 6 | 2 | N/A |
| 2010 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 61 | N/A | WD | 7 | N/A |
| 2011 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 70 | 10 | 2 | 3 | N/A |
| 2012 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 4 | N/A |
| 2013 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 2 | N/A |
| 2014 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| 2015 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 2 | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 1 |
- Key: WD denotes withdrawal from the tour.
Individual victories
- 42 victories – (20 WC, 22 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Discipline | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008–09 | 4 January 2009 |  Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup |
| 2 | 2010–11 | 28 November 2010 |  Kuusamo, Finland | 10 km F Pursuit | Stage World Cup |
| 3 | 9 January 2011 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup | |
| 4 | 12 March 2011 | Lahti, Finland | 10 km M Pursuit | World Cup | |
| 5 | 2011–12 | 27 November 2011 | Kuusamo, Finland | 10 km C Pursuit | Stage World Cup |
| 6 | 8 January 2012 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup | |
| 7 | 5 February 2012 |  Rybinsk, Russia | 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon | World Cup | |
| 8 | 3 March 2012 | Lahti, Finland | 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon | World Cup | |
| 9 | 18 March 2012 |  Falun, Sweden | 10 km F Pursuit | Stage World Cup | |
| 10 | 2012–13 | 6 January 2013 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup |
| 11 | 17 February 2013 |  Davos, Switzerland | 10 km F Individual | World Cup | |
| 12 | 17 March 2013 |  Oslo, Norway | 30 km F Mass Start | World Cup | |
| 13 | 24 March 2013 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km F Pursuit | Stage World Cup | |
| 14 | 2013–14 | 4 January 2014 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 5 km C Individual | Stage World Cup |
| 15 | 5 January 2014 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup | |
| 16 | 28 December 2013 - 5 January 2014 |  Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | |
| 17 | 15 March 2014 | Falun, Sweden | 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon | Stage World Cup | |
| 18 | 16 March 2014 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km F Pursuit | Stage World Cup | |
| 19 | 14–16 March 2014 | World Cup Final | Overall Standings | World Cup | |
| 20 | 2014–15 | 30 November 2014 | Ruka, Finland | 10 km C Individual | World Cup |
| 21 | 6 December 2014 | Lillehammer, Norway | 5 km F Individual | Stage World Cup | |
| 22 | 7 December 2014 | Lillehammer, Norway | 10 km C Pursuit | Stage World Cup | |
| 23 | 13 December 2014 | Davos, Switzerland | 10 km C Individual | World Cup | |
| 24 | 10 January 2015 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 10 km C Mass Start | Stage World Cup | |
| 25 | 11 January 2015 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup | |
| 26 | 2015–16 | 28 November 2015 | Ruka, Finland | 5 km F Individual | Stage World Cup |
| 27 | 29 November 2015 | Ruka, Finland | 10 km C Pursuit | Stage World Cup | |
| 28 | 27–29 November 2015 | Nordic Opening | Overall Standings | World Cup | |
| 29 | 5 December 2015 | Lillehammer, Norway | 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon | World Cup | |
| 30 | 12 December 2015 | Davos, Switzerland | 15 km F Individual | World Cup | |
| 31 | 20 December 2015 | Toblach, Italy | 10 km C Individual | World Cup | |
| 32 | 2 January 2016 | Lenzerheide, Switzerland | 15 km C Mass Start | Stage World Cup | |
| 33 | 6 January 2016 | Oberstdorf, Germany | 10 km C Mass Start | Stage World Cup | |
| 34 | 10 January 2016 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 9 km F Pursuit Final Climb | Stage World Cup | |
| 35 | 1–10 January 2016 | Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | |
| 36 | 23 January 2016 |  Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km F Individual | World Cup | |
| 37 | 7 February 2016 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km F Mass Start | World Cup | |
| 38 | 13 February 2016 | Falun, Sweden | 5 km C Individual | World Cup | |
| 39 | 14 February 2016 | Falun, Sweden | 10 km F Mass Start | World Cup | |
| 40 | 21 February 2016 | Lahti, Finland | 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon | World Cup | |
| 41 | 2 March 2016 |  Montreal, Canada | 10.5 km C Mass Start | Stage World Cup | |
| 42 | 1–12 March 2016 | Ski Tour Canada | Overall Standings | World Cup |
Team victories
- 13 victories – (13 RL)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Discipline | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007–08 | 25 November 2007 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Jacobsen / Skofterud / Bjørgen) |
| 2 | 9 December 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Stemland / Steira / Skofterud) | |
| 3 | 2008–09 | 23 November 2008 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Bjørgen / Steira / Kristoffersen) |
| 4 | 2009–10 | 7 March 2010 | Lahti, Finland | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Kristoffersen / Steira / Bjørgen) |
| 5 | 2010–11 | 21 November 2010 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Skofterud / Steira / Bjørgen) |
| 6 | 12 December 2010 |  La Clusaz, France | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Skofterud / Steira / Bjørgen) | |
| 7 | 2011–12 | 20 November 2011 | Sjusjøen, Norway | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Skofterud / Steira / Bjørgen) |
| 8 | 12 February 2012 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Skofterud / Jacobsen / Bjørgen) | |
| 9 | 2012–13 | 25 November 2012 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Skofterud / Hagen / Bjørgen) |
| 10 | 20 January 2013 | La Clusaz, France | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Weng / Steira / Bjørgen) | |
| 11 | 2013–14 | 8 December 2013 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Weng / Steira / Bjørgen) |
| 12 | 2015–16 | 6 December 2015 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Falla / Østberg / Weng) |
| 13 | 24 January 2016 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4x5 km M Relay | World Cup | (with Østberg / Weng / Jacobsen) |
Overall record
| Result | Distance Races[a] | Sprint | Ski Tours | Individual Events | Team Events | All Events | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 5 km[b] | ≤ 10 km[b] | ≤ 15 km[b] | ≤ 30 km[b] | ≥ 30 km[b] | Pursuit[c] | Skiathlon | Team Sprint | Relay | |||||
| 1st place | 4 | 9 | 2 | 2 | – | 15 | 5 | – | 5 | 42 | – | 13 | 55 |
| 2nd place | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | – | 9 | 1 | – | 7 | 28 | – | 1 | 29 |
| 3rd place | 2 | 11 | 3 | 2 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 3 | 30 | – | 1 | 31 |
| Podiums | 7 | 27 | 6 | 6 | – | 32 | 7 | – | 15 | 100 | – | 15 | 115 |
| Top 10 | 15 | 47 | 6 | 8 | – | 37 | 7 | 5 | 21 | 146 | – | 17 | 163 |
| Points | 26 | 56 | 9 | 8 | – | 41 | 7 | 30 | 21 | 198 | – | 17 | 215 |
| Others | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | 1[d] | 18 | – | – | 18 |
| Starts | 27 | 57 | 9 | 8 | – | 41 | 7 | 45 | 22 | 216 | – | 17 | 233 |
Olympic results
- 3 medals – (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km individual | 15 km skiathlon | 30 km mass start | Sprint | 4x5 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 21 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 1 | – |
| 2014 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | 5 | – |
World Championship results
- 11 medals – (7 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km individual | 15 km skiathlon | 30 km mass start | Sprint | 4x5 km relay | Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 18 | – | – | 3 | – | – | – |
| 2009 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | – | 4 | – |
| 2011 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| 2013 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | – | 1 | – |
| 2015 | 26 | 27 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
Sponsors
Her sponsors are (as of 13 October 2016) Tag Heuer, Huawei, Isklar and Eger.