Swedish Star Hints at Retirement: ‘The End is Coming Closer’

Swedish biathlete Hanna Öberg, aged 29, has had a challenging time at the World Championships in Lenzerheide so far. In Tuesday’s normal distance race, she had to serve an extra five minutes and ended up in 43rd place, which proved to be a particularly heavy experience.

After the race, Öberg stated that her career is nearing its end. According to her, there are now other priorities in life that she hadn’t considered before. Though she admits that she doesn’t see an endless future in the sport, she is still motivated and focused. Öberg has plans to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, which will likely be her final Olympic appearance, while her participation at the World Championships in Otepää two years from now remains uncertain.

Despite the current difficulties, the Swedish star boasts an impressive career with two Olympic golds, one Olympic silver, 13 World Championship medals, and 52 World Cup podiums. Her remarks come in the wake of similar confirmations from renowned biathletes Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø, who have both hinted at the natural progression towards retirement in the sport.