Klæbo's Most Important Helper I Don't Think People Understand How Much He Means

Klæbo's most important helper: - I don't think people get it He means an incredible amount PLANICA (VG) Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (26) decorated his incredible career with another sprint gold.

But he has also been through a brutal downturn and tough conflicts with his own association Manager father Haakon Klæbo is always behind the scenes.

Dad Haakon couldn't stand still when his son opened the Planica WC with gold in the sprint ahead of Pål Golberg and Jules Chappaz from France - Tired of shit! This has required a lot of work.

He has been very nervous, says Haakon, who struggles to get the words out, right after the finish line Johannes is slightly moved when he sees the pictures of the senior.

- It means a lot to him too It was a team win for both.

We have stood by it and I am looking forward to giving him a hug afterwards, says Klæbo - Describe what he means? - I don't think people understand that.

He means an incredible amount He is the one who actually has control over most things.

When the shoes for Saturday's duathlon are to be put on, he wears them while cooking The father and son relationship is probably different from most other people's.

After Klæbo's breakthrough in 2016, Haakon left his job as CEO of the technology company Sky Labs Since then, Haakon has been the closest supporter, and this season they have been extra close.

Klæbo (in contrast to the other men's runners on the national team) bets on an altitude training regime that requires around 100 days a year in places around 1,800 meters above sea level Mostly, the duo is alone on tour for a month at a time.

- I think we have found a good balance and we have been through a lot We have cracked the code, says Klæbo.

- How do the roles of father/son and performer/manager work? - It's mostly going smoothly We both have full understanding, and I am just eternally grateful that he bothers to join me on the trip for four weeks.

Then I hope he also enjoys himself in the middle of it all, says Klæbo to VG The 26-year-old with five Olympic golds, seven world cup golds and 61 World Cup victories consistently refers to his father as "the father".

Haakon Klæbo is "always" nearby when his son once again wreaks havoc with the competitors But Haakon is also the one who is there in the toughest moments.

The first Klæbo calls when something happens Like when he was stripped of the WC gold in the five-mile in 2021.

Haakon is the one who takes care of the conflicts with the Skiing Association, the media and sponsors answer When the crisis alarm went off in the national ski team after corona disease in the squad just before the Olympics, he helped solve the logistics.

Klæbo has stated that he has not used a mental coach or a psychologist, but that his father is the closest thing he will have to one Klæbo expresses that the atmosphere is mostly at its best and that it is liberating to have Haakon around.

- If I don't bother to chat around the dinner table one day, that's no problem It's just "the father", sort of.

It's quite a lot easier than having someone else with you who you might feel you have to satisfy in a different way, says Klæbo He talks about days that are very automatic, the boring cliché skiers love: Training, eating and sleeping.

And should something come up, they have the "talk" - There is a bit of a bad atmosphere.

So I'm very much like that if there's a bad mood, I'll bring it up then and there, and we'll be done with it The worst thing I know is people who are short-tempered and go around nagging about something you could only solve here and now.

Then it is much better to say it as it is And if we disagree, we disagree and move on, says Klæbo.

The alternative is to talk to the mother Elisabeth Høsflot Klæbo She has taken care of the finances after her son made it through and is absolutely central to what must be called a family business.

- In the middle you have mum, she is really the glue If I get annoyed or something, I take it up with her, then she has to take it further, says Klæbo and laughs.

- Mum is important, she fixes a bit of "everything possible", such as making sure I have enough bread and baking energy bars She is responsible for the finances, where I am also quite involved, says Klæbo.

While grandfather Kåre Høsflot is a trainer, grandmother Mildrid makes bread for the gluten-allergic athlete Siblings Ola (22 years old, artist "OKEY") and Ane (20 years old, also cross-country skiing) have helped with the YouTube venture and social media.

- How is it for the other siblings when you and father spend so much time together? - I feel there is a great deal of understanding Last weekend, Ane was at the Norgescup and brought her mother.

Ola does a bit of his own thing Then there are large parts of the summer when "the father" is more with the rest, then I mostly manage by myself.

- Sister and brother understand how it is, we are a very understanding bunch He sees Ola and Ane as good friends.

- I think nothing is funnier than when Ane or Ola succeed We are well connected, talk often and spend a lot of time together.

Klæbo also lives with Pernille Døsvik The closest people outside the family are Arild Monsen (sprint coach on the national team), Frode Pedersen (ski oiler), Lasse Gimnes (PR advisor) and Per Olav Monseth (helper with financial management).

Ola does a bit of his own thing Then there are large parts of the summer when "the father" is more with the rest, then I mostly manage by myself.

- Sister and brother understand how it is, we are a very understanding bunch He sees Ola and Ane as good friends.

- I think nothing is funnier than when Ane or Ola succeed We are well connected, talk often and spend a lot of time together.

Klæbo also lives with Pernille Døsvik The closest people outside the family are Arild Monsen (sprint coach on the national team), Frode Pedersen (ski oiler), Lasse Gimnes (PR advisor) and Per Olav Monseth (helper with financial management).

Ola does a bit of his own thing Then there are large parts of the summer when "the father" is more with the rest, then I mostly manage by myself.

- Sister and brother understand how it is, we are a very understanding bunch He sees Ola and Ane as good friends.

- I think nothing is funnier than when Ane or Ola succeed We are well connected, talk often and spend a lot of time together.

Klæbo also lives with Pernille Døsvik The closest people outside the family are Arild Monsen (sprint coach on the national team), Frode Pedersen (ski oiler), Lasse Gimnes (PR advisor) and Per Olav Monseth (helper with financial management).

He sees Ola and Ane as good friends - I think nothing is funnier than when Ane or Ola succeed.

We are well connected, talk often and spend a lot of time together Klæbo also lives with Pernille Døsvik.

The closest people outside the family are Arild Monsen (sprint coach on the national team), Frode Pedersen (ski oiler), Lasse Gimnes (PR advisor) and Per Olav Monseth (helper with financial management) He sees Ola and Ane as good friends.

- I think nothing is funnier than when Ane or Ola succeed We are well connected, talk often and spend a lot of time together.

Klæbo also lives with Pernille Døsvik The closest people outside the family are Arild Monsen (sprint coach on the national team), Frode Pedersen (ski oiler), Lasse Gimnes (PR advisor) and Per Olav Monseth (helper with financial management).

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