End of Riitta-Liisa Roponens international career
May 05, 2022·Cross-Country
For more than 20 years, Riitta-Liisa Roponen stood on the start line of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. After the Finnish Championships in Rovaniemi, the now 43 year-old Finn shared that her time to retire from international racing has come and that she wants to focus on new chapters in life.
The incredible World Cup career of Ritu started in 1998, when many of her contenders today were only just born. No other current member of the FIS Family has been longer on the race course than her and with this incredible stamina and love for the sport, Riita-Liisa has gone through many changes, re-inventions and seen many athletes come and go.
Back in 2001, the first World Cup points came in Kuopio, with a 22nd rank in the 10km C. The next day, the first top-15 spot came with a 14th rank in the 5km F and one more day brought the 4th rank in the Relay.
The team events accompanied Ritu throughout her career – from her first steps on the World Cup podium in 2002, with a 3rd rank in Nove Mesto – to her last bronze medal at World Championships in Oberstdorf in 2021, who made her the oldest World Ski Championships medalist in Cross-Country skiing.
Riita-Liisa has competed in 298 (!) World Cup competitions (individual and team) and claimed 30 podium spots within.
From Val di Fiemme 2003 to Oberstdorf 2021, Ritu took part in 9 different venues of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, raced 29 competitions and brough home 7 medals.
The Olympic medal dream came true in Vancouver 2010 with a bronze medal with the Relay team. Five Olympic participations including 13 competitions sum up the very successful career of Riitta-Liisa Roponen.
Ritu, may you follow your dreams, plans and passions to the fullest. Congratulations on a complete and successful career and all the best for whatever life brings next, your FIS Cross-Country family.
Click here for the FIS athlete bio.
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