Two years ago, she was seen as one of the brightest prospects of Norwegian biathlon, and today she leaves the sport quietly, with just one World Cup podium to her name.
Marit Ishol Skogan announced her retirement during the Norwegian national championships in Os, where the relay races took place on Sunday.
Following the retirement of legends such as Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Tiril Eckhoff, Skogan was expected to be among those who would take over the leading role in the national team.
The motivation is gone
The 27-year-old athlete hoped that these championships would give her a spark to restart a season that had stalled since January. But that did not happen.
She was even entered for Friday’s sprint but withdrew just before the start.
“I signed up hoping to feel that ‘yes, now I’m ready to compete again’. But I didn’t feel it.
Being at the start no longer felt natural to me. I am ending my career here,” she said emotionally in an interview with Trønder-Avisa.
Skogan also admitted that she now wants to focus on life outside of elite sport:
“In high-level sport, you can sometimes become a bit self-centered. Now I have so many other projects.
I will finally be able to help others. I want to do things for others, not just for myself.”
