Marcus Hellner has retired
Aug 31, 2018·Cross-Country
He has four Olympic medals, six individual and five team World Championships medals. Twice he has been nominated for Sweden's male athlete of the year. Now, Marcus Hellner chooses to end his successful ski career.
"I no longer have the hundred percent drive needed to move on," says Marcus.
Marcus Hellner has a long and successful career to look back on. He still has the fitness and capacity to win as he claimed two Swedish titles one month ago. But the desire to put down the huge time and focus required by elite skiing is no longer available.
"Completing the effort is not an easy decision to take. It's a fun life to go skiing and I'm doing well in the national team. But the most important thing is to always do as good as you can and I feel I have not driven it all the way. Then I can not motivate myself to continue, says Marcus Hellner.
In Sapporo 2007, then, 21-year-old Marcus succeeded in skiing the third leg of the relay for the team who took bronze for Sweden. After that he has been in the anchor skier for another six World Championships relay as he did in two Olympic Winter Games.
Hellner also has Team Sprint silver from World Championships in Val di Fiemme 2013, as well as three individual championships - an Olympic gold, an Olympic silver and a World Championships gold.
What's going on in Hellner's future is not clear yet.
"I need some more time to let the pieces fall into place before deciding what to expect next," Marcus Hellner said, who made his last World Cup competition in Falun in March, where he had the eighth fastest time in the 15 km pursuit.
"I'm incredibly pleased with the years that have been and for all of whom I've learned during the trip. Thank you for your presence there, all the clubs and sponsors, fans, national teams, family and friends.
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