Cross-country skiing: Helene Marie Fossesholm warns that a revenge-hungry Norway will challenge Sweden

Helene Marie Fossesholm, who shocked the ski world by announcing her retirement at age 24, believes Norway will soon return to the top of women’s cross-country skiing.

Speaking to SVT, Fossesholm cautioned that Sweden’s current dominance won’t go unchallenged for long. “I don’t want to paint Norwegian cross-country black. There’s no basis for that. It goes in waves, up and down. It’s growing well in Norwegian cross-country too. We have many girls who are on the way up,” she said.

Referencing Sweden’s sweep on Norwegian soil last season, she added: “I hope they take up the fight with the Swedish women, because that Sweden cleaned up on Norwegian ground is not something the Norwegian girls want to allow again.”

Her remarks come after two difficult seasons for Norway’s women and as Therese Johaug’s definitive retirement reshapes expectations. Despite stepping away herself, Fossesholm remains optimistic that a new generation will restore Norway’s competitiveness against Sweden.