Lifestyle / Society

He made Olympic history. She finished the world's toughest triathlon. Our cover stars Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Pernille Døsvik on their year of triumph

By Imogen West-Knights
Klæbo and Døsvik stand against a forrest and river background wearing all white from Caucasian brand Institution

Pernille wears Volumed trench coat. Johannes wears Draped knit cardigan, Wool trousers. €800. All INSTITUTION. Photo: Ole Martin Halvorsen

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Pernille Døsvik have had quite the year. For Klæbo, making history as the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time in Cortina, and for Døsvik, winning the coveted black shirt for completing the fiendishly demanding Norseman triathlon. With a wedding on the horizon, we meet one of Norwegian cross-country skiing’s golden boys and his bride-to-be to discuss what the future holds

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, the jewel in Norway’s cross-country skiing crown, is used to spending time in the lush pine forests of Baklidammen. When he’s in Trondheim, the city he still calls home, he’s here training three or four times a week. What’s slightly outside of the norm for Klæbo is the tailored Dolce & Gabbana suit he’s wearing instead of his usual aerodynamic attire. But even without his ski skinsuit, there are still signs that this man is an elite athlete. The area beside the crashing waterfall where this cover shoot is taking place is slippery and treacherous, but Klæbo remains unphased, leaping from rock to rock with ease. Such conditions are nothing to a man who trains all year round, rain, shine or snow, to conquer cross-country race tracks across the globe.

Klæbo and Døsvik stand against a forrest background. She wears an Hermès set, and he wears brown trousers, and beige jacket

Pernille wears Two-toned sleeveless turtleneck, €1,500, Dress with leather details, €6,100. Both Hermès. Johannes wears Turtleneck, €950, Overshirt, €3,300, Wool shearling jacket, €11,000, Wool trousers, €1,100, Black boots, €1,380. All Hermès. Photo: Ole Martin Halvorsen

Klæbo is widely regarded as the greatest cross-country skier in history. His rise has been steady and relentless. He made his skiing World Cup debut at 19, won his first World Cup race at 20, going on to dominate both sprint skiing and long-distance races. Now 29, he has amassed more gold medals than any other Winter Olympian in history (11) and took home a gold in every one of the six races he entered at Milan Cortina earlier this year. To watch Klæbo ski is an exercise in believing the unbelievable: it simply doesn’t seem possible that anyone should be able to ski uphill – a skill that those in the sport have dubbed the “Klæbo run” – faster than most people can move on flat ground.