The Norwegian star couldn’t resist a playful moment with his long-time rival. As the conversation turned to Pellegrino’s final Olympic season, Klæbo was asked what he wished for the Italian. His answer came with a grin: “Another silver.”

Fans had waited for hours outside the doors of Sala della Regione in Piazza Dante to see home favorite Federico Pellegrino and the Norwegian superstar. The private “summit” was part of the annual sports fair in Trento and also marked the milestone of less than 100 days remaining until the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics.

The audience, made up largely of young fans, filled the hall to catch a glimpse of the two ski legends live.

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Sharing experiences and stories

The two superstars did not disappoint.

Pellegrino recalled when the Norwegian, six years his junior, first appeared on the World Cup circuit.

“I understood right away that he was something special,” said the 34-year-old, according to Fondo Italia, adding:

“He studied every move and was extremely focused on details, just like me. But he did it even better than I did. I managed to beat him in Lahti (2017), but that was before he became an adult.”

Klæbo, in turn, said that the rivalry with the cheerful Italian had been an important part of his career and contributed greatly to his development.

“I remember when I was young and saw Pellegrino winning everything. For me, he was a huge role model. I studied his tactics and tried to adapt them to my own style. Eventually, I got the hang of it. He beat me in 2017, but that was an experience I learned a lot from,” said Klæbo.

Development, dreams, and personal life

The two discussed their careers, their most significant victories and defeats, and the women in their lives. Pellegrino is married to Greta Laurent, and the couple has two children. Klæbo proposed to his fiancée, Pernille, earlier this year.

Now Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is heading home to Norway before returning to Livigno, Italy, next week to begin his final altitude training camp of the autumn.

Also Read: Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

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