- Norway's Johannes Klaebo credits Utah for aiding his Olympic success with 10 golds.
- Physical therapist Megan Rowlands Stowe has worked with Klaebo for four years.
- Klaebo trains in Park City and plans to buy a home in Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY — Norway's Johannes Klaebo secured his 10th career gold medal during the Olympics in Milan-Cortina on Wednesday, making him second to icon swimmer Michael Phelps.
But to reach that accomplishment, he relied on Utah — both in altitude and a physical therapist in Midway.
"To be able to work with the best Nordic skier in the world is just icing on my career," said Megan Rowlands Stowe.
She has worked with the Norwegian GOAT, the greatest of all time, for four years to help him strengthen, gain mobility and avoid injury.
In fact, the morning KSL spoke with her, she had just finished working with Klaebo.
She's become so essential that she travels with Klaebo's family to important events and races, including the Olympics.
"My goal is to balance his body," she said.
She described the athlete as engaging. He's willing to do what it takes to maintain a body that can withstand the rigors of elite cross-country skiing.
"He wants to learn, and he's willing to go down any rabbit hole I offer him in terms of recovery or physical therapy," she said.
When Klaebo first started working with her, he had hamstring issues and hadn't done much tissue work. Although he's used to grueling workouts, he was not accustomed to the pain that came with therapy.
"When I worked on Johannes, his muscles were stuck together. So it was really painful for him when I worked on him for the first time. But once he understood the ramifications and the goal, he was all in, and he took the pain, and he has progressed as a patient," she said lightheartedly.
Klaebo also trained at the altitude of Park City during the summer and worked more intensively with Stowe during those months.
She said Klaebo loves Utah and hopes to buy a home here when he retires from ski racing.
Utah is already a home and training ground for so many on Team USA; it's no surprise Klaebo also sought the benefits for Team Norway. The successful partnership between athlete and physiotherapist left Stowe cheering on both teams.
"I'm Team Klaebo, and Team USA," she said.
