Having retired from skiing a year and a half ago, the former Olympic and World Championship star shines with an outstanding performance at the Frankfurt Marathon.

Pål Golberg retired from his cross-country skiing career in April last year, after 16 years on the World Cup circuit. Since then, he has focused more on running. 

Last year, he made his debut with a fifth-place finish at the Oslo Marathon, clocking in at 2:28:11. In June, he followed up with a victory at the Nordmarka Skogsmaraton. 

On Sunday, the 35-year-old impressed with another stellar performance in running shoes: Golberg finished the Frankfurt Marathon in 2:18:55, placing 19th overall. This also ranks him in the top 10 in Norway. 

“I bow down,” wrote cross-country skiing expert Petter Skinstad on X.

Jirata Lelisa Denki won the Frankfurt Marathon with a time of 2:05:25. 

See full results

Impressive career

Pål Golberg has participated in two Olympics (2014 and 2022) and four World Championships (Val di Fiemme 2013, Oberstdorf 2021, Planica 2023, and Trondheim 2025). He holds one Olympic silver (relay in 2022) and four World Championship golds, including one individual title (50km in 2023), as well as two Norwegian Championship golds (sprint in 2013 and 30 kilometers in 2020).

Golberg made his World Cup debut in the city sprint in Drammen in March 2010. Since then, he has competed in 227 World Cup races, stood on the podium in 56 of them, and won 19. 

Running boom

Pål Golberg is among several former cross-country stars excelling in running. This season, Therese Johaug has been running so fast that she is considering a marathon at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

She is now in talks with the Athletics Federation.

Also Read – Olympic door opens for Johaug: reveals ongoing conversations

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