Sport News
Time to say good-bye: Cross-Country Skiing retirements
The end of the season not only marks the beginning of a short summer, but also a time during which some athletes decide to end their active careers. The following retirement of Pietro Piller Cottrer in has come to the attention of FIS Newsflash.
The Italian Cross-Country skierhas decided to bid farewell at the age of 38 years. Piller Cottrer already participated in his first FIS Race at the young age of eight, and entered the FIS World Cup tour in 1994. Three years later, he raced to his first victory in the 50 km event at Holmenkollen (NOR) and took bronze in the relay at the 1997 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim (NOR). After claiming gold at the World Champs in Oberstdorf (GER) in 2005 in the 15 km competition, he added another 30km bronze and relay gold medals to his collection at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin (ITA) in 2006. To round off his career achievements, he claimed abronze medal at the 2007 Nordic World Champs in Sapporo (JPN) in the 30km pursuit event.
Meanwhile, Norwegian legend Thomas Alsgaard (41) has announced a comeback to racing, at least ski marathons. Ten years after his retirement from competition, it has been reported that Alsgaard has decided not to continue to commentate for Norwegian TV NRK, but instead to spend time training properly in order to fight for victory in Marcialonga, Vasaloppet and Birkebeiner, among other prestigious ski marathons, next season. While denying that he seeks to become part of the Norwegian team in Sochi to race the 50km, Alsgaard indicates that he is so motivated to be back on the timed tracks that he may keep racing ski marathons until he turns 50!
Source: FIS
The Italian Cross-Country skierhas decided to bid farewell at the age of 38 years. Piller Cottrer already participated in his first FIS Race at the young age of eight, and entered the FIS World Cup tour in 1994. Three years later, he raced to his first victory in the 50 km event at Holmenkollen (NOR) and took bronze in the relay at the 1997 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim (NOR). After claiming gold at the World Champs in Oberstdorf (GER) in 2005 in the 15 km competition, he added another 30km bronze and relay gold medals to his collection at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin (ITA) in 2006. To round off his career achievements, he claimed abronze medal at the 2007 Nordic World Champs in Sapporo (JPN) in the 30km pursuit event.
Meanwhile, Norwegian legend Thomas Alsgaard (41) has announced a comeback to racing, at least ski marathons. Ten years after his retirement from competition, it has been reported that Alsgaard has decided not to continue to commentate for Norwegian TV NRK, but instead to spend time training properly in order to fight for victory in Marcialonga, Vasaloppet and Birkebeiner, among other prestigious ski marathons, next season. While denying that he seeks to become part of the Norwegian team in Sochi to race the 50km, Alsgaard indicates that he is so motivated to be back on the timed tracks that he may keep racing ski marathons until he turns 50!
Source: FIS
