Therese Johaug is back: Two years after retiring from professional sport, the Norwegian won the Engadin Women's Run with an advantage of more than three and a half minutes. Her former Olympic rival Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland was second, Davos Seraina Boner third. Tania Arquint, who came in third, was disqualified due to fluorine wax on her skis.
The first race after her baby break ended with a victory for Therese Johaug (35). From the start, she dictated such a high speed that her opponents had to be demolished within the first kilometers. “I wasn't particularly attacking, I was just going at my own pace,” said Johaug at the finish line. The four-time Olympic champion ran in her own performance class and it was clear early on that she would win the race. The chasing group worked well up to Zuoz, said third-placed Seraina Boner.
In the last few kilometers, however, Justyna Kowalczyk gained ground and only Tania Arquint was able to follow her. However, their joy of finishing on the podium was only brief. The International Ski Federation FIS checked the first six and took a further 16 random samples for the prohibited fluorine wax. Arquint and three other female athletes were diagnosed with fluorine wax. The four were disqualified.
Johaug wants to be the first world champion over 50 kilometers
Whether the victory in the Engadin Women's Run marks Therese Johaug's comeback in top-class sport remained somewhat unclear on Sunday. At the Nordic World Championships in Trondheim (NOR) in one year, the 50 kilometers will also be run by women for the first time. This race would appeal to Johaug, as she said before the race in Engadin. If she were to win, that would not only be her 15th World Champion title, she would also be the first 50-kilometer World Champion in history.
She hasn't made a final decision about a comeback yet, said Johaug. If she tackled the 50-kilometer world championship, she said, she would focus solely on this race and the necessary qualifying races. They will definitely not resume a full World Cup program.
Results: 23rd Engadin Women's Run, Samedan-s-Chanf, 17 km
- Johaug Therese (NOR) 44,07,7
- Kowalczyk Justyna (POL) +3,37.2
- Boner Seraina, Davos place +4,25.2
- Barbueda Saskia, Ardez +4,35.1
- Ehrenzeller-Jaeger Christa, Valens (GR) +4,41.7
- Gasparin Selina, Lanch (GR) +5.12,1
- Kudre-Schnyder Daisy, Siat (GR) +5.28.8
- Köpfli Naomi, Hünenberg See (ZG) +6.09,3
- Iseppi Annina, St. Moritz (GR) +6.14.0
- Paalberg Epp, St. Moritz (GR) +6,43.9
Media release of the Engadin Ski Marathon dated March 3, 2024.
Christian Gartmann has been Communications and Media Officer at the Engadin Ski Marathon since 2014 and advises organizers on crisis management and crisis communication.