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Legendary skier Marit Bjoergen retires

Published : 07 Apr 2018, 01:07

DF-Xinhua Report

Marit Bjoergen of Norway celebrates after winning ladies' 30km mass start classic of cross-country skiing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre, PyeongChang, South Korea, Feb. 25, 2018. File Photo Xinhua

Norway's 38-year-old legendary cross-country skier Marit Bjoergen confirmed that she shall retire, public broadcaster NRK reported Friday.

"I feel that I do not have the motivation needed to give 100 percent for another season, so I choose to stop," Bjoergen told NRK Friday, when she also participated in her last race.

"I thought it would be easier to talk about this. I am touched. It has been an epoch in my life of more than 20 years. So it is special to say that this is my last season as a top athlete,", she added.

Vidar Lofshus, director of Norway's national ski team, said that they would give Bjoergen some time to rest and be with her family, but he "has no plans to completely let go of her".

According to the report, it is not yet decided what Bjoergen will do now after the career is over, but she promised to return.

"I want to contribute. I am not completely gone," she said.

During her legendary career, she won a total of 15 medals that makes her the most-winning Winter Olympics participant.

Bjoergen is also ranked first in the all-time Cross-Country World Cup rankings with 114 individual victories.