Eva Urevc has decided to end her competitive cross-country skiing career, the Slovenian Ski Association confirmed this week, bringing an emotional chapter of Slovenian skiing to a close just weeks before the start of the Olympic winter.

The 30-year-old from Gorje, regarded as one of Slovenia’s strongest female cross-country skiers of her generation, announced her decision after a long period of reflection. Speaking in an interview published by the Slovenian Ski Association, Urevc explained that both physical and mental factors ultimately led her to step away from elite competition.

“I gave myself one last chance to see if I could reach the level I once was at. Unfortunately, neither my head nor my body cooperated,” Urevc said, adding that the decision was not sudden but carefully considered. Despite training fully through the summer, she felt she could no longer reach the level she expected of herself.

Urevc made it clear that merely participating in major events was not enough motivation to continue. With the Olympic Games approaching, she stated that racing without the possibility of competing at the highest level did not make sense for her. “Participation at the Games alone means nothing to me. I wanted results that matched my expectations,” she explained in the Slovenian Ski Association interview.

The highlight of Urevc’s career came at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf, where she won bronze in the team sprint together with Anamarija Lampič. That medal remains one of Slovenia’s most significant achievements in women’s cross-country skiing. Among her other career highlights, Urevc pointed to a 12th-place overall finish in the Tour de Ski three seasons ago, a 9th-place in a distance race, several strong sprint qualifications, and a victory in a team sprint event.

Looking back, Urevc expressed pride in her career while also acknowledging unfulfilled potential. She said that difficult periods, including recovery from RED-S syndrome and personal challenges, made it impossible to regain the level she once reached. “When you no longer enjoy the process and lose the inner fire, you know it’s time to stop,” she said.

Despite the difficult decision, Urevc described a sense of relief after informing her coach of her retirement. With the end of one chapter, a new one begins. While she confirmed having new goals and motivation, she chose not to reveal details about her future plans yet.

Eva Urevc steps away from the sport as a respected athlete, remembered for her consistency, resilience, and her role in one of the greatest moments in Slovenian cross-country skiing history.

This article is based on information and quotes from the official press release and interview published by the Slovenian Ski Association.

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