Just two weeks after securing a silver medal in the team sprint at the Olympic Winter Games, Nadine Fähndrich, Switzerland’s most decorated cross-country skier, announced her retirement from the sport. But one final goal remains within reach for the 30-year-vintage.
Fähndrich’s journey currently leads her north to Lahti, Finland, where a sprint race on Saturday and a 10km classic race on Sunday await. She’s firmly in contention for the slight crystal globe awarded to the season’s top sprinter, but that’s not the primary topic of conversation as she spoke with SRF at Zurich Airport.
The announcement of her retirement at the complete of the season sent shockwaves through Swiss cross-country skiing. Fähndrich, the most experienced and successful athlete on the Swiss team, is stepping away from the sport after a stellar career. She explained that the decision wasn’t sudden, but rather a growing realization over recent weeks.
The Olympic silver medal, while a crowning achievement, wasn’t the deciding factor. “It was mega-beautiful, it still worked out. But that’s not why I said, ‘now it’s over,’” Fähndrich said. Her core question became: “Am I still willing to invest everything?” Because, she emphasized, her guiding principle has always been: “Either I go all in, or I don’t go at all.”
Looking Ahead: Sport Remains, But First, the Globe
What’s next for the owner of three World Championship medals and seven World Cup victories? The athlete from Skiclub Horw intends to remain involved in the sport in a different capacity. But before she hangs up her skis at the Swiss Championships and the domestic Langis-Sprint, there’s still a crystal globe to chase.
Fähndrich trails Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist by 42 points in the sprint standings. She acknowledges the challenge, stating, “Of course, the globe is my goal, but Maja is very strong. If I can show my best, a lot is possible.” It would be a final, significant triumph.
But Fähndrich doesn’t need the globe to feel fulfilled. When asked what she’s most proud of, she explained, “I could list many results now. But the whole journey I’ve made, my development, what I’ve learned – that’s what fills me with the most pride.”
Cross-Country Skiing
Nadine Fähndrich’s career includes eleven World Cup seasons, over 200 starts at the highest level of competition, three Olympic appearances and five World Championships, according to 20 Minuten. She is considered the most successful Swiss cross-country skier. Her first World Cup podium came in 2018 in Cogne, Italy, and her first World Cup victory was in Dresden, Germany, in 2020, as reported by Wikipedia. She secured a silver medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina in the team sprint.
Fähndrich’s decision comes at a high point in her career, but she maintains that her commitment to the sport demands complete dedication. As she prepares for her final races, she’s focused on leaving everything on the course, embodying the “all in” philosophy that has defined her career. The Swiss team will undoubtedly feel the loss of their leader, but Fähndrich’s legacy of perseverance and success will continue to inspire future generations of Swiss cross-country skiers.
The next step for Fähndrich is the World Cup races in Lahti this weekend, where she will continue her pursuit of the sprint crystal globe. Following those races, she will compete at the Swiss Championships and the Langis-Sprint before officially retiring.
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