When asked to reflect on her career highlights and biggest battles, Eckhoff quickly mentions her home stadium in Oslo. “My biggest highlight is to win in Holmenkollen at my home stadium, shooting clean. Never done it before. It was great. My family, friends, everyone was there, and it was like a dream come true.”
 
Of course, her biathlon journey wasn’t always smooth. She admitted the challenges she faced: “It was ups and downs, and that was vital in life for me. But I eventually managed to turn the ups [into] better and better and better with the years. But it was hard work.”
 
As for the future, Eckhoff admits she’s still working on finding her next big goal: “I wish I had a really good goal and what I’m aiming for, but I struggle to find it. But I think it will come, hopefully, in 5 to 10 years. I hope I have a family, and that’s a dream.”
 
Even though Eckhoff isn’t training as much anymore, she sees physical fitness as an essential part of her life: “I think training is so good for your mental health and your well-being. I’m not so good at it anymore. I don’t train seven days a week, and I’m not what you call it fanatic… I’ve done my part, but I like to stay fit.”

Commentating

The conversation moved to her work as a commentator for TV2, where she shares the stage with two Norwegian sports icons, Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Petter Northug: “They are so different from me. I think it’s really hard to try to be in between, so I just tried to find my way. I do a lot of more audience-based, a little bit more of the fun side.”

When referring to working with two strong personalities, Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Petter Northug, Eckhoff said with a laugh “…It’s like you almost have to fight for the attention.”
 
Lastly, when asked if she would ever compete in a Ski Classic race, she laughed and said: “Never, ever. I think [if I do] then it’s just for fun… maybe the Marcialonga for fun.” While also mentioning that she certainly won’t be competing in the Norwegian Birkebeiner, stating it’s “Sooo Norwegian, I have to go away!”
 
However, the mention of a Ski Classic Challenger in Australia piqued her interest: “Then we go to Australia!”

Read more: Stina Nilsson: The journey to Ski Classics

Part two of the interview with Tiril Eckhoff will follow on Proxcskiing.com