On Wednesday morning, Sjur Røthe announced that he is retiring as a cross-country skier at the World Cup level after 13 years on the Norwegian national team and just over a year since he last won an individual World Championships medal.

The 35-year-old admits that the decision was a long time coming. Now, a month after losing his place on the national team at the end of April, he has decided to retire. But Røthe has been thinking about it for much longer than that. He’s been mulling it over since early winter. But now the decision has been made.

Read More: World champion retires

Why he’s giving up

Several factors come into play, but for Røthe, it was about two things in particular: One is that he has lost faith in his ability to win ski races.

“I’m struggling to believe that I’ll be able to win World Cup races again,” Røthe tells VG.

The past winter has by no means been a highlight for Røthe. It was characterized by illness and adversity. The national team veteran hardly skied last winter; his best result in the World Cup was 20th place. This also meant he lost his place on the Norwegian national team.

“And being unable to ski fast for so long takes its toll on your confidence. Last year, I planned to go to the World Championships in Trondheim, but right now, I can’t quite see how it will work out.”

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The other is that after 13 years as part of the national team, further investment would be outside the Norwegian national team. 

Going private was a real possibility, but it was mostly on paper. When Røthe counted, the team was an enormous motivating factor.

“Just the fact that I skied until I was 35… I probably wouldn’t have done that if it hadn’t been because I was on a team with my best friends, the best skiers in the World. That camaraderie is unique,” says Røthe.

A rock in the team

National team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum is clear that he will miss the veteran, who is also known for his unique ability to be in top form when it counts.

“The ability he had as an individual athlete to make people around him feel good is unique. Genuinely interested in the people around him, genuinely concerned that they are doing well,” says Nossum.

A long and distinguished career

Røthe has been a key member of the Norwegian national team since the 2011 World Championships on home soil in Oslo, where he came fourth in the 50km race, the main event at the championships in Holmenkollen.

Since then, he has competed in every championship for Norway. In total, he has participated in two Olympics and seven World Championships and has won six World Championship medals, including three golds.

Sjur Røthe has competed in 218 World Cup races since he debuted in the 50km World Cup in Trondheim on March 14, 2009 (a race he did not complete). He has 44 podiums and 13 World Cup victories, including six individual wins.