Swiss cross-country skier Nadine Fähndrich has announced that she will end her career after the current season, closing the chapter on more than a decade among the World’s top sprint specialists.

The 30-year-old from Lucerne leaves the sport as one of Switzerland’s most successful female cross-country skiers and with more than 200 World Cup starts to her name. Her final season has also delivered one of the biggest highlights of her career: an Olympic silver medal in the team sprint at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Together with Nadja Kälin, Fähndrich stormed to silver in the Olympic team sprint, securing Switzerland another historic result on the biggest stage in winter sports.

“Being able to turn my hobby into a profession has been a great privilege,” Fähndrich said when announcing her decision. “I am extremely grateful for all the years I have had the chance to work with my team and develop as an athlete.”

Also Read: DACH cross-country skiers took the first medals of the 2026 Winter Olympics in the Team Sprint

A sprint specialist among the world elite

Fähndrich has been one of the key figures in Swiss cross-country skiing over the past decade. Since making her World Cup debut in December 2015, she has steadily developed into a consistent contender in sprint races.

Her breakthrough came a few seasons later with a podium finish in the 10km classic race in Cogne. In December 2020, she claimed her first World Cup victory in the freestyle sprint in Dresden, a result that confirmed her place among the World’s best sprinters.

Over the years, Fähndrich has collected 25 World Cup podium finishes across sprint races, team sprints, and relays, including seven victories.

She has also delivered memorable performances on home snow. In December 2022, Fähndrich celebrated two World Cup sprint wins within two weeks, triumphing in both Davos and Val Müstair.

Championship medals

Major championships have also brought success for the Swiss skier.

At the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf, Fähndrich teamed up with Laurien van der Graaff to win silver in the team sprint. Four years later, at the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim, she added two more medals to her collection: bronze in the individual sprint and bronze in the team sprint together with Anja Weber.

Her Olympic silver medal this winter marked another milestone.

“Winning an Olympic medal has always been a dream of mine,” Fähndrich said. “It is wonderful that the dream I worked towards for so long finally became reality.”

One final race

Before stepping away from elite racing, Fähndrich still has one more target. She remains in the fight for the Sprint World Cup title this season and currently sits second in the standings.

Read More: Cross-Country World Cup 2025/2026: Standings after Falun

Her final appearance is expected to come at the Swiss Championships in Les Diablerets at the end of March.

After eleven seasons in the World Cup, three Olympic Games, and five World Championships, Nadine Fähndrich now prepares to bring a successful international career to a close.

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