Go all in once more, then off to Down Under

Nadine Fähndrich is not one for half measures. However, the 30-year-old cross-country skier from the tranquil village of Eigenthal at the foot of Mount Pilatus is not a woman of big words either. Rather, she is a meticulous worker who sets herself high goals, stands by them publicly and strives for them consistently and with great ambition. The way she is now ending her sporting career in a few days fits perfectly into this image.

After the great disappointment of failing in the sprint quarter-finals in Val di Fiemme, Fähndrich had made it clear that there would certainly be no more Olympic Games for her. After her redemption with silver in the team sprint with Nadja Kälin, she left it open as to whether she would continue for at least one more season. The question was: Is she still willing to "go all in? "Either I go all in or I stop." With a little distance, the decision was clear.

In the midst of the Swedish phalanx

Fähndrich is the most successful Swiss cross-country skier in history, overshadowed only by four-time Olympic champion Dario Cologna. Seven World Cup victories, six of them in the singles, 28 podium places, three World Championship medals and now Olympic silver - the Lucerne native's palmarès is practically complete. One big goal remains before the last World Cup of her career. After three 2nd places in the overall standings, she has the chance to win the small crystal globe as the best sprinter of the season for the first time at the skating sprint in Lake Placid on Saturday.

Last week, she finished third in Drammen to make up 30 points on the leader Maja Dahlqvist, 20 points behind the Swede and eight behind her compatriot Johanna Hagström. Although some of the best sprinters, such as world champion Jonna Sundling or Olympic champion Linn Svahn, often miss out on one or two World Cup races, victory would by no means be stolen. Fähndrich has finished on the podium five times in ten World Cups, with only one victory (still) missing this season.

Proud of the way

But she is no longer putting herself under pressure. The crystal globe would be a small dream come true, but the athlete from Central Switzerland, who in her younger years occasionally failed due to her nerves and almost despaired, has long been at peace with her career. Not because of the medals she has won, but because of the path she has taken. "My development, everything I've learned, that's what makes me most proud," she revealed during a video call from Finland shortly before the season finale.

This path includes undergoing heart surgery to correct a minor irregularity. And, above all, that she had the courage to go her own way when Swiss-Ski parted company with coach Ivan Hudac and she continued to hire the Slovakian on a private basis. The reward was her first World Championship medal in the individual sprint a good year ago in Trondheim and the success she so longed for at the Olympics. Remarkable: Fähndrich achieved her three medals in the team sprint at major events as the final skier with three different partners: 2021 in Oberstdorf with Lauren van der Graaff, 2025 in Trondheim with Anja Weber and now in Val di Fiemme with Nadja Kälin.

Australia, bike tours and Thai boxing

Now comes a summer that, for the first time in more than a decade, is no longer dominated by training and top-class sport. Fähndrich visits Australia for the first time with her boyfriend Elvis Fazliu. The Basel native of the same age with roots in Kosovo has been a mainstay at the Lucerne native's side for almost twelve years, accompanying her mainly on her racing bike and - less frequently - on her cross-country skis.

Sport will continue to play an important role in Fähndrich's life in the future. She wants to take up Thai boxing again, she says, and she can also imagine working as a trainer, although probably not full-time and with a lot of traveling involved. Finally, family planning is also definitely an issue.

One position has already been decided: Nadine Fähndrich will next chair the OC of the traditional Langis Sprint in the canton of Obwalden, which is organized by her ski club in Horw. She will also be taking part in her last competition there next Easter Saturday. Many former companions have announced their attendance - for example Laurien van der Graaff.