After son’s fourth straight gold in Italy, Klæbo’s father says “we’re just having fun” – FasterSkier

PREDAZZO, ITALY — Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is 4 for 4 — and formally essentially the most golden Winter Olympian in historical past.

By anchoring Norway’s relay staff to first place Sunday, Klæbo claimed his ninth Winter Olympic gold — transferring him out of a tie, with two different Norwegian cross-country skiers and a Norwegian biathlete, for essentially the most ever.

At a information convention afterward, Klæbo mentioned he’d been drained by the trouble it took to win Friday’s 10-kilometer particular person begin skate race — the primary time he’d ever gained an occasion in that self-discipline.

The subsequent day, he mentioned, “the only thing I did was lay in the bed and play on my PlayStation.” But by the point he wakened Sunday morning and checked his coronary heart price, he mentioned, “it looked pretty good.”

[Read more: That guy rollerskiing around Utah by himself: Yeah, it’s 5-time Olympic champ Johannes Klæbo]

After Sunday’s relay win over France and Italy, Klæbo is now poised to win the final two cross-country occasions on the Games, each of which — a staff dash, and a 50-kilometer mass begin race within the classical approach — favor him.

At the information convention, he mentioned he’s nonetheless taking it someday at a time. “We’ll see where we end up at the end,” he mentioned. “But it feels, so far, so good.”

In search of some extra revealing solutions, we went on the lookout for Klæbo’s father.

Haakon Klæbo, for the previous week, has been a ubiquitous presence on the Olympic cross-country ski venue, watching races with the lots alongside the race trails with family and friends. We discovered him strolling alone behind the stadium — the place he was blissful to reply a couple of questions earlier than others broke in.

Nathaniel Herz: Are the Olympics a platform the place Johannes is beginning to go from a Norwegian to a world star, with these viral movies of him working up the final hill within the dash race?

Haakon Klæbo: Yeah, it appears like at the very least it’s. It is a large curiosity in him. Olympics is actually huge within the U.S. But I additionally suppose that extra U.S. residents are studying how a lot time he spent there. He’s linked with (Utah physiotherapist) Megan (Stowe). She is actually the one which has made his energy program, which is — it’s not that it’s secret, however if you happen to look into it, he’s doing a whole lot of core energy. This is a program that he additionally follows at residence (in Norway).

NH: How nervous had been you for the 10-kilometer skate race two days in the past?

HK: I used to be actually nervous for the ten okay, and I knew that it was his weak level, or Achilles, in a manner. We must do not forget that he has by no means gained a ten okay skate earlier than, by no means — and that is in his complete profession. I feel that he has been in ok form, however this has been one thing in his head — and one thing that if you don’t accomplish, it begins to turn out to be much more problematic.

Devon Kershaw, a retired Canadian World Championships gold medalist in cross-country snowboarding, who’s working as an knowledgeable TV commentator on the Olympics, walks up: Congratulations.

Herz, to Klæbo: You know this man?

HK: No.

NH: This is Devon Kershaw.

DK. Congratulations, it’s been fairly the present.

HK: Oh! Yeah — it’s a little unbelievable, since you don’t count on it. And we had these loopy days in (the World Championships in) Trondheim final 12 months, during which had been hoping for like two or three (medals). (Klæbo gained gold in all six occasions.)

And now, with 4.

NH: Do you suppose going by means of this complete Trondheim expertise final 12 months is making this loads simpler for him now?

HK: Yeah. He had been coaching for that since he heard Trondheim would host the World Championships, and he has been the entrance determine. They used him (of their advertising supplies), saying, ‘Born and raised.’ He’s standing there, like 18 years outdated — he had one pair of Leki ski poles at the moment. He was sporting a go well with that he had borrowed from a pal that was on the staff. He was like, ‘This is my dream.’ And then he managed to do it. So, I feel he was actually harassed for it.

This season, it has simply been enjoyable. We’ve been along with (teammate and pal) Emil (Iversen). Me and him and Emil have been touring round  — it’s like being there with two boys enjoying round. So, I feel he’s actually way more relaxed. And you’ll be able to see, additionally — I feel he’s even stronger, right here, if you happen to take a look at his dash.

[Podcast: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has a lot to say. We listened.]

DK: I agree with you, 100%. Everyone made such a giant deal of it, however successful the person begin skate. That’s the largest factor to me, as a fan and an individual that raced his complete life. I’m getting goosebumps fascinated with what I noticed two days in the past. When you win that, then you definately’re actually the king.

HK: And I mentioned to Nathaniel that I feel that he has been robust sufficient to do it for years. But it has been one thing up right here (factors to his head). He’s by no means gained it.

NH: Do you suppose that’s his finest accomplishment ever?

HK: Yeah, I feel it’s. And he was actually drained after — he has been working actually, actually arduous. I used to be afraid for this relay right this moment — that he wouldn’t have the ability to run, as a result of I feel he put a lot into the 10k. So a lot power spent.

NH: Was he at a drawback being first, on this particular person time-trial type race, of all these Norwegian guys? That meant that he wouldn’t get as a lot data on the course from his coaches about how his occasions in comparison with the others.

HK: Actually, his finest races from skate particular person begin are when he’s simply doing his personal factor — simply making his personal tempo, and doing what he’s good at. You might see that for the others, it was a drawback. I feel, for (rival-teammate) Einar (Hedegart), it was making an attempt to push on Johannes’ time (that was the issue). If you take a look at the 2 of them, racing, they’re fairly related in taking it slightly sluggish within the first two kilometers. Then beginning to get quicker and quicker and quicker, and having a loopy second half. 

I feel that that was what made Einar lose the silver. He pushed too arduous — and he received burned and he misplaced 20 seconds within the final 1,000 meters.

NH : Will you be very harassed concerning the 50 kilometer race, the final occasion? Or do you are feeling like, when you get to the 50 okay, a lot has already been completed that you could calm down slightly.

HK: The 10 okay was what I used to be actually afraid of. And now, I don’t know — we’re simply right here right here having fun with and having enjoyable. And then, all the pieces can occur. And even when he’s getting sick tomorrow, we’ve had 4 gold medals, and also you’re the most effective Winter Olympian — and nonetheless, you’ll be able to race for an additional Olympics. I feel if you happen to ask him, his dream Olympics could be to do a 50 okay in Soldier Hollow (in Utah) — which is his residence.

A center aged fan carrying a Finland flag breaks in, screaming: “Klæbo! Klæbo! Number one!” The fan calls for a photograph, then ushers Klæbo away.