Johannes Kläbo: interest exploded

Norwegian star skier Johannes Klæbo compete despite a concussion in the World Cup finals in Lake Placid, USA, this coming weekend.

Klæbo’s trip to the United States went badly wrong in other respects.

Norwegian newspaper VG reported last week that Klæbo and his supporters had big plans for the week leading up to the Lake Placid Games. Interest in the Norwegians who won six Olympic gold medals in February has exploded across the ocean.

“A whole new world has opened up for us”, the skier’s advisor Lasse Gimnes said according to VG.

Klæbo had interviews scheduled for the beginning of the week with major US media The New York Post, Wall Street Journal, NBC and CNN. They, however had to cancelas he traveled to the United States only on Wednesday.

If the interviews had taken place, Klæbo would have gained visibility in the large US market, which is very important in terms of partnerships.

“None of these media have been interested in us before,” Gimnes commented before being informed about the cancellation of the interviews.

The increase in attention has also been reflected in the number of followers on Klæbo’s social media. According to Gimnes, the skiing star had around 450,000 Instagram followers before the Milan-Cortina Gold Games. Now there are 745,000 of them.

Gimnes said that Klæbo’s support team has received various cooperation proposals and interview requests since the Olympics. For the most part, they have refused.

Klæbo29, suffered a mild concussion at the Drammen Sprint last Thursday when he crashed the U.S. Ben Ogden’s with. The Norwegian had to withdraw from Saturday’s 50 km race at Holmenkollen.

Klæbo has managed to secure the first place in the World Cup overall competition and the Sprint Cup. He is second in the Normal Travel Cup, only three points behind his compatriot Harald Amundsenia behind.

Klæbo said in a press release published on Wednesday that he decided to go to Lake Placid after a successful test practice on Tuesday morning. He set off on the 20-hour journey from Oslo early Wednesday morning.

“My expectations are not very high. I will do my best despite the difficult preparation and possible time difference fatigue. I will decide whether to compete in one, two or three races after I get to ski,” he commented.