The 25-year-old from Norway shocked everyone when she retired last fall, just before the Olympics. Now she’s back in her hometown, driving around in a car with the municipal logo.

Life after elite sports has moved quickly for Helene Marie Fossesholm. Last winter, she began her long-awaited medical studies while also serving as a cross-country skiing expert on TV. Now, the former World Champion has taken on a new job in a completely different field.

Full-time role in home care

Fossesholm has completed half a year of her medical education and has taken a summer job in home care. She views this as excellent practical experience and a perfect fit while she is home in Vestfossen for the summer.

“I love it. I have from day one,” Fossesholm said in an interview with Modum kommune.

As a summer substitute in home care, Fossesholm has a variety of tasks. She now drives around to assist with putting on compression stockings, personal care and showering, applying creams, and a “whole range of other tasks she finds rewarding.”

“These days so far have done nothing to reduce my respect for those who work 100 percent in positions like this all year round,” Fossesholm noted.

So far, the summer job has sparked her interest. Now, Fossesholm hopes to pick up extra shifts in home care throughout the rest of the year, even as she moves back to Oslo for the start of her studies.

Still a celebrity

As a skier, Fossesholm drove around in a car covered in sponsor logos. Now, she drives a vehicle with the Modum kommune logo. However, she still retains her celebrity status, especially among the users.

“Is that really you? I’ve seen you on TV,” was the first comment from one of the users when the former skiing star showed up for training a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s so special when Helene comes, she was my favorite on TV. I followed every race. And then she comes here to help me. She’s good at it too. This is SO special,” said the 79-year-old.

The story continues below.

Reduced training

Since retiring, Fossesholm has cut back on her training. With studies and now a full-time job, she only manages one training session a day, compared to two previously. After her debut in the health service, she realizes that having energy is just as important in everyday life as it is on the ski track.

“You really need energy in this line of work and have something to give to the people you care for. I’ve already noticed that,” Fossesholm said.

Even though Fossesholm has retired from her World Cup-level cross-country career and is training significantly less now, she remains in excellent shape. Just two weeks ago, she returned to competition with a start number at the World Championships, finishing fifth, albeit in a different sport, Hyrox.

Also Read: Fossesholm makes World Championship comeback

Made a comeback – and retired

After being dropped from the Norwegian national team in April 2024, Fossesholm focused on her private training. She set up her own program with her father as coach and a support team of people she trusts. The 2024/2025 season became her best in several years.

Despite a knee injury that could have derailed her entire career during her preparations, Fossesholm made it into the Tour de Ski team and was selected for the World Championships in Trondheim. She won the Scandinavian Cup overall, thus earning a free pass for the entire first period of the World Cup. These rounds were crucial for Olympic selection.

Nevertheless, Fossesholm chose to retire in October. The reason was a lack of motivation.

Predicted to be Norway’s next star

Fossesholm was only 18 years old when she joined the elite national team in the spring of 2020. Her first season was a continuous rise, with strong performances in the World Cup, a World Championship gold in the relay, and top-10 finishes individually at the World Championships in Oberstdorf in 2021. Everything seemed set for her first Olympics to be just as successful.

But that was not to be.

Looking back, Fossesholm is clear about the reason:

“I trained too much in my first year on the national team.”

Solid career

Helene Marie Fossesholm has a relay gold from the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf, where she was the anchor leg. In the same championship, she also finished sixth in the skiathlon, eighth in the 10km freestyle, and 25th in the 30km. Additionally, she has two podium finishes in the World Cup, both in the 2020/2021 season.

At the junior level, Fossesholm won three gold medals, including two individual titles, and two silvers.

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