“Shocking news”
At 24 years old: world champion ends career
October 8, 2025 – 3:56 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
World champion Helene Marie Fossesholm ends her career as a cross-country skier at just 24 years old. Her Norwegian teammates react in shock.
Helene Marie Fossesholm has surprisingly announced the end of her sporting career as a cross-country skier. The 24-year-old Norwegian cited a lack of motivation as the reason. In a statement on Instagram, she explained: “I have some somewhat sad news to announce. I have decided to quit. Over the last few months my motivation has fluctuated a lot, although unfortunately I have mostly felt the opposite.”
Despite intensive efforts in the summer, she was unable to find the joy in competition again. “I always hoped that this feeling was just temporary and that my motivation would return. I tried to focus on the positive, so I also pretended that my motivation was at its peak. Unfortunately, taking time off didn’t help,” she continued.
Fossesholm’s resignation leaves its mark on the Norwegian team. Cross-country skiing legend Therese Johaug, who ended her career after last season, was affected.
“It came as a very surprise to me. It’s a big decision to stop shortly before the start of the season,” she said as an expert on Norwegian television NRK. There, the young athlete’s move was described as “shocking news”.
Heidi Weng also reacted emotionally. “I shed a few tears. She has to make this decision for herself. If it’s right for her, I support her,” said the multiple world champion.
National coach Sjur Ole Svarstad was apparently unprepared for the news. “I have goosebumps. It was surprising and very unexpected for me. She sent me a text message that I was quite unprepared for. I couldn’t have imagined that a few months ago when we were together at Blinkfestival and Toppidrettsveka,” commented the coach.
In addition to the sporting aspects, the athlete’s professional future also seems to have played a role. Fossesholm plans to study medicine and wants to devote herself entirely to her academic training in the future. “It will be a different life, but one I’m looking forward to,” she wrote.
In terms of sport, Fossesholm was one of the greatest talents in Norwegian cross-country skiing. In 2021 she became world champion in the relay. In the same year she won the national championship title in the ten kilometer freestyle and finished ninth in the Distance World Cup. She also achieved two podium finishes in the individual World Cup.