Five-time Olympic champion Johannes Klebo, having the status of the highest paid skier in Norway, has long been considered a rather capricious person.

Everyone remembers his manipulation before the marathon in Beijing, which turned into a reduction in the distance. But in addition to the sports part, he is also quite principled in legal matters.

The scandal before the start of this season’s World Cup, when the athlete refused to wear the sponsor’s logo on his uniform, is not a one-time story. On April 30, the main star of the Norwegian national team expires a contract with his federation, and a new one has not been signed.

Klebo openly blackmails officials. But what if Norway does not follow the lead of the main star?

Klebo will not be in the Norwegian national team?

During this week, Norway’s cross-country team manager Espen Bjervig has to present what the team will look like next year. The presentation will take place in Oslo, and about whose candidacy there should be no questions, it’s Johannes Klebo. In fact, the only skier on the men’s team who achieved what was expected of him in Beijing. At least over short distances.

But negotiations with the manager of the athlete, who is traditionally represented by the father of Hakon, and the grandfather-coach Kare are dragged out again.

— I can confirm that we have a dialogue, the purpose of which is to find a solution. But we are not finished yet,” says Hakon Klebo.

Hakon Klebo and Johannes Klebo / Photo: © Trond Tandberg / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

It must be said that the Norwegian federation is having difficulty re-subscribing its gold asset every year. Before the 2019-20 season, Klebo pulled at all until mid-June, and the comments were identical.

We have a good and constructive dialogue, but the agreement has not been signed. I don’t want to say anything more about this now,” Espen Bjervig answered the questions of excited journalists.

Apparently, the Klebo family are great fellows. Having a long-term contract with a powerful fuel company, the 26-year-old skier is trying to choose the most suitable training option for him, which forces the federation to offer him the most convenient options for him. And not very pleasant. Otherwise, negotiations would not drag on for months.

What does it threaten?

But this time, the drawn-out negotiations may have consequences. The rules of the Norwegian Ski Federation state that runners who refuse a place in the national team cannot be taken to the competition, except in special circumstances. What these special circumstances are is not clear. There were no such precedents. But there is information that they want to cancel this rule.

“The Cross Country Council has appointed a working group that will review the national team model to see if there is a need for changes,” said Thorbjorn Skogstad, head of the Cross Country Committee.

Probably functionaries tend to continue to trust Johannes, who takes an open position and expresses a desire to continue working in the team. Moreover, the federation recently re-signed an agreement with coach Arild Monsen, who will lead the sprint group until the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim.

Arild means a lot to Klebo, so the presence of a 60-year-old specialist in the hands of the federation is a trump card in negotiations with a skier.

— I am very pleased with the work with Arild, and this is the most important thing for me. Arild is an important part of my solitaire, and I hope that we will continue next year, says Klebo in the midst of negotiations.

Johannes Klebo / Photo: © Federico Modica / NordicFocus / Contributor/ Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

It all looks like a tricky game in which no one wants to concede. Most likely, Klebo will have to moderate his financial appetites and curb his own greed in order to be able to compete in international competitions. Otherwise, Johannes will be gladly accepted at competitions in Russia. Our guys certainly will not hurt such competition. And you don’t even need to sign a contract with the Russian Ski Racing Federation!