When Therese Johaug decided to make a comeback this season, it was Sunday's World Championship five-mile race on home turf, in Trondheim, that she had set her sights on.
Back in the World Cup tracks, she noticed that her form was so good that she wanted to fight for gold medals in all distance events at the World Championship.
So far, it has gone – so-so.
I still feel very calm about it, says Johaug about the three World Championship silvers so far.
I can't do anything other than my best. That's just how it is. Regardless of whether I reach my dream or not, I don't feel that the World Championship has been a failure.
Painfully small margin
It must still sting a little. Partly because all the gold medals have gone to Sweden, partly because the margins have so mercilessly gone against the Norwegian skiing legend.
In the skiathlon, she lost to Ebba Andersson on the finish line photo. On the 10-kilometer classical, Andersson won with a 1.3-second margin. And in the relay, Norway lost a sprint finish for gold.
Then it's not about me not having the form. It's just about it having been a pole position for my part. It's clear that you're very disappointed when you're in the midst of it, but if you just lift your gaze a little, the performance has been very good. I mustn't forget that, says Johaug.
Three golds in Peking
It's a big difference from how it was last time her career was coming to an end. The Olympic Games in Peking were a glittering finale where Johaug took three golds.
Sunday's five-mile race is the last chance to get a new golden finale.
In Peking, everything went my way. Here, it's been the opposite, says Therese Johaug.
But I know that I'm in good form and have the chance to win. I've missed three gold medals by a total of two seconds' margin. But I'm also proud of being in such good form and the way I've made it here. I have to tell myself that it's also good.
After the World Championship, the plan is to end her career (again) with a final competition: the World Cup on home turf, in Holmenkollen, next week.
