Mexico tries to recruit Norwegian legend Petter Northug — federation chief tells Yle what’s on the table and the path to a nationality switch

Norwegian cross‑country skiing star Petter Northug, 39, has reignited debate in the sport by revealing his ambition to return to major championships by changing his sporting nationality. With Norway’s national team stacked with younger stars, the two‑time Olympic champion and 13‑time world champion is seeking a new flag to represent.

Northug has floated several possibilities — including Liechtenstein and Austria — but in recent months Mexico has become the most prominent option. Earlier in June he said he has been discussing a switch with Mexico’s ambassador to Norway, Omar Fayad, emphasizing he wants any attempt to change nationality to rest on a credible foundation.

Mexico’s head of skiing, Carlos Pruneda, confirmed to Yle that the idea has caused surprise in the sport, given Mexico’s lack of winter conditions and tiny footprint in cross‑country skiing. He notes that snow is rare outside the highest peaks, and that most of Mexico’s elite ski athletes live and train in North America or Europe.

A key connector is Allan Corona, a 35‑year‑old former triathlete who moved to Oslo four years ago, fell in love with cross‑country skiing, raced the 2023 and 2025 World Championships, and secured an Olympic quota place for Mexico for the 2026 Winter Games. Corona’s networking in Norway brought him into contact with Northug, and Mexico’s ambassador has already provided Northug with forms to initiate the process.

Pruneda says he plans to speak directly with Northug soon, but stresses that a nationality change is time‑consuming and would require approvals from the Norwegian and Mexican federations as well as FIS. The next FIS meeting is at the end of September, which could be a milestone if paperwork advances. While the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympics come too soon for Northug under current timelines, his target would be the 2027 World Championships in Falun.

Mexico cannot promise large financial support. According to Pruneda, national‑team skiers largely self‑fund their careers or rely on sponsors; the federation’s limited budget goes mainly to championship entries and training camps. Mexico receives operational support from FIS and the IBU and hopes that Northug’s star power could attract sponsors and lift results.

Pruneda argues that Northug could provide leadership and become a role model for children in Mexico, while giving the team much‑needed visibility. What Mexico can immediately offer is a passport pathway and an avenue to compete in top international races once eligibility rules are satisfied.

Beyond Northug, Mexico is trying to grow the sport. A roughly €400,000 FIS signing bonus tied to the centralized media deal with Infront is earmarked for training camps in Europe and North America. Mexico has arrangements to use U.S. Ski & Snowboard facilities, access in Canada, and summer training blocks for alpine and cross‑country athletes in Argentina and Chile. The federation is also promoting roller skiing domestically — hosting try‑outs in parking lots and talking with regional authorities about youth outreach — to expand a current cross‑country pool of about ten active athletes (most based in Europe), despite an official FIS roll of around 50 Mexican license holders.

Pruneda concludes that while resources are limited, securing a figure like Northug could be transformative for Mexico’s skiing ambitions and development.