The cross-country skiing talent from Lillehammer competed at the World Championships in Planica 2023, the World Championships in Trondheim last year, and the Olympics in Milano-Cortina this winter. Now, he is retiring.

More than four years have passed since his World Cup debut in Beitostølen in December 2022, along with two World Championships and one Olympic appearance. Now, Fredrik Fodstad is stepping away from full-time elite-level competition.

The 25-year-old announced the decision on social media at the start of the Easter weekend.

“I no longer feel the desire and eagerness to become a better skier in the same way, and then I feel that it is time to explore other parts of life,” Fodstad writes on his Instagram account.

“There have been many good and many tough years of cross-country skiing. Countless training hours. Hard days, good days and lows that have hurt deep into my pride. And moments I will never forget! But everything has its time.”

Adopted as a baby

Fredrik Fodstad was adopted as a baby from Colombia by Norwegian parents and grew up in Eidsvoll. He has held dual citizenship since 2020. In recent years, he has lived in Lillehammer to pursue cross-country skiing full-time as part of the private team Team Olympiaparken.

The Norwegian-Colombian skier has already competed in two World Championships and one Olympic Games: Planica 2023, Trondheim 2025, and the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina. He has also raced 22 World Cup events for Colombia, with a 54th place in the skiathlon at the 2023 World Championships in Planica as his best individual result.

“This journey has shaped me more than I may even realize right now. But now a new part of life begins. A little scary, but most exciting,” says Fodstad.

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A post shared by Fredrik Fodstad (@fredrikfodstad)

This article was initially published on Langrenn.com

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