The Norwegian cross-country skiing veteran has been left out of the World Championship team and is now considering a change of sport.

Pondering a Change

The 33-year-old will not be part of Norway’s squad for the home World Championships in Trondheim. Tønseth now anticipates also being dropped from the national team.

“I’m going to be without a team next year,” Tønseth told Adresseavisen.

Whether he will continue pursuing cross-country skiing remains uncertain, as he revealed he’s toying with the idea of a change to another sport.

“I might transition to athletics, perhaps. I’m considering it,” Tønseth said.

Tønseth is one of the national team athletes who runs the most during the offseason and is no stranger to the athletics scene. He is a Norwegian champion in cross-country running (2018) and claimed silver in the 2019 Norwegian Championships. That same year, he finished 15th at the European Cross-Country Championships.

“Before I retire, I want to run 10,000 meters under 29:35. I won’t quit until I’ve done that—it’s the record for skiers,” Tønseth said, referencing Magnar Lundemo, who was an elite athlete in both skiing and athletics for several years.

A Nightmare Season

Tønseth had a rocky lead-up to the World Championship season. It started perfectly—he was in stellar form at the beginning of September.

But by late September, he was battling mycoplasma, a bacterial respiratory infection that caused fever, prolonged coughing, and bronchitis, which can lead to pneumonia. While the symptoms vary, Tønseth’s illness lingered for weeks.

“I’m not entering the season with much confidence. But I’ve been able to train, join team camps, and see where the bar is set,” Tønseth said to Langrenn.com before the season opener at Beitostølen.

The first part of the season was dismal, with finishes of 17th and 19th in Beitostølen and 12th and 31st in the World Cup at Lillehammer.

Things only started to improve after New Year’s. At the Scandinavian Cup in Falun, he podiumed in both distance races, and in last weekend’s skiathlon at the Norwegian Championships in Gåsbu, he delivered a strong 7th place.

Still, his lackluster World Cup results weren’t enough to secure him a spot on the World Championship team. And retaining a spot on the national team for next year’s Olympic season will be an uphill battle.

Head coach Eirik Myhr Nossum sees slim chances for Tønseth but hasn’t entirely ruled him out.

“There’s a lot of World Cup racing left, and he could win the remaining races. But this is a brutal sport. It’s unlikely we’ll increase the number of national team spots, and he’s skating on thin ice with every race,” Nossum told Adresseavisen.

Postponing a Decision

Despite the challenges, Tønseth isn’t ready to give up skiing just yet. Tønseth’s performed better recently and believes he can still compete with the best when in top form.

At last year’s pre-World Championship event, he placed third in the skiathlon. Later in the season, he finished fifth in the Holmenkollen 50 km and fourth in the 10 km classic at the World Cup finals in Falun.

“I don’t feel like I’m done yet. I think I’ll try to race a few more events before I start to wind down,” Tønseth said.

The issue for the veteran is earning opportunities to compete in World Cup races to prove his worth, a challenge that becomes even tougher in an Olympic season.

Only eight spots are available in the Olympic team, compared to 12 for the World Championships. Additionally, the Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina 2026 will take place a month earlier than the Trondheim World Championships, meaning the team will effectively be finalized before New Year’s.

The national team will prioritize its members for World Cup selections during the early season, leaving Tønseth likely out in the cold.

Are you certain your spot on the team is gone?
“Yes, I’m pretty sure,” he said.

No Plans for Long-Distance Racing

While many skiers turn to Ski Classics as a Plan B, Tønseth has little interest in following that path.

His experiences in long-distance races a few years ago left him unenthused.

“If you want to compete and have a chance, you’d have to go all in. You can’t just show up because the level in Ski Classics is so high. The courses are flat, with a lot of double poling, and I’m too weak for that,” Tønseth told Langrenn.com earlier this season.

Read more: Understanding the Endurance Athlete’s Heart