June 2, 2009 (Trondheim, Norway) – Legendary Norwegian cross-country skier Tor Arne Hetland announced his retirement on April 24, just nine months before the start of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. There are few things that Hetland has left undone. He has won Olympic sprint gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, he’s been a sprint world champion, and he has a strong abilities in both classical and skating techniques. He is a very popular figure in international sport circles, where his down-to-earth nature, easy-going style and his outstanding results have made him an icon of the Norwegian National Team. We spoke with him recently in an exclusive SkiTrax interview from his home, only a short walk from Trondheim’s famed ski stadium.

So has your retirement sunk in yet . . . have you gotten your arms around it?
Tor Arne Hetland: You know, I’ve had some lingering injuries, and they got worse this year, so I feel like leaving the sport as an athlete, while I am on top. I am not getting any younger [he’s 35], and I’ve been considering this for some time. I have been in the ski world for sometime now. [He began attending a special sports school at age 16.]

But, more specifically, what really caused you to think it’s over?
TAH: I’ve been having knee problems and it got worse after Liberec this winter, and I have asthma as well, and didn’t want to be racing at 70%. I had surgery at the end of the season in Trondheim, right behind my patella, and I had some downtime to think this over. The surgery went well and I am healthy to live a normal life, but when you race, you want things 100% . . . so I had two months to really think it over, and I have made the right decision.

So close to the Olympics, didn’t you want to ski in Vancouver?
TAH: Yes of course, very much, that was my goal, and also to ski at the FIS World Championships in Oslo in 2011 – but you must give it all when racing, and I cannot be at my best now.

How do you feel now that you’ve made the decision?
TAH: Well, I feel OK about it right now, but come September, I think I will really miss it. I have some interest in the World Loppet [he’s already done several – in Switzerland and Russia], and I’d like to get into coaching more.

Do you have any job offers on the table yet?
TAH: Yes, but I cannot speak about them now . . . I’ll let you know later in the summer. We will have to see what happens.

Let’s talk about sprinting and it’s future, as you were the first world champion in Lahti in 2001 and then Olympic gold medalist in Salt Lake City.
TAH: Sure, I love the sprints, and though I consider myself to be an all-round skier, I have had some great results in sprinting, that’s true. I think sprints are headed in the right direction; it makes for great spectating and watching on TV. I have enjoyed skiing in city sprints, and like all the courses, not just one in particular. I do know that people like to see the crashes, but I feel some courses have too many corners. The level is so high now. My first sprint race was back in Reit im Winkel [Germany] in 1996, I think that was the first World Cup sprint ever, though I started racing in 1990.

How has it changed?
TAH: Well, you must train for sprinting specifically, but you also must do endurance training. I mean these races take hours to compete through the brackets; they are really tough. Technique is evolving. One trouble in sprinting is that Norway is so good.

Trouble?
TAH: By that I mean that for us it’s great – we have a very, very strong team, but we need more countries to be highly competitive to grow the sport worldwide. Italy and Sweden, for example, have good programs that can be strong, too.

Speaking of Norway, so many of us consider Norway to be the cradle of Nordic skiing and it’s really given us a picture that Norway has so much depth – are the kids turning out in high numbers?
TAH: Yes, that’s a good question . . . the numbers are still high and the future of racing in Norway is very bright. In clubs and youth skiing, there are so many kids that are turning out, the sport is very big, there are so many places to ski. My only reservation is that the sport is getting more and more expensive. It’s sad for me to see kids having to spend money on classical and skate equipment, poles, booting, skis . . . it’s a lot of money. I also would like to say that the numbers are great in Norway, yes, but I think the sport is getting bigger and bigger, but all around the world. That’s a good thing.

What about the growth of events like the Tour de Ski which have been good for the sport’s development and drawn greater television ratings?
TAH: Yes, they have. And this year it will be much better still, without so much travel. They still need more skiers – more of the top ones – but it’s not easy to race at that level all season long. It can affect performance in February like at the Worlds or the Olympic Games, you have to be careful. Also look at the World Cup this season, the winners are from all over the world, that’s a good thing . . . it’s really global.

Looking back on your fabulous racing career, is there one event or race that stands out – one special memory like your Olympic sprint gold at Salt Lake where you beat Peter Schlickenrider of Germany by one-tenth of a second?
TAH: That was certainly a special moment for me, but there have been many. I’m very proud to have raced well in both techniques – in short and long distances – over a long period of time. I’ve also had two wins in the World Loppet, and I’ll do more of those races. I love the sport and the people; I have many, many friends. My life is rich, when you do something – like over 10 years – you do it because you love it. My wife [former Norwegian racer Guri Knotten] has been a big part of my success and so much help.

When I was a kid, I had posters on my bedroom wall of Ellefsaeter, Martinson, those guys . . . who were your heroes?
TAH: Growing up, I would have to say (Ove) Aunli, (Oddvar) Braa and (Tor Hakkon) Holte.

Thank you very much for taking time to talk, it’s a pleasure and we wish you all the best. Can we check in with you later this summer to see what’s up?
TAH: Of course you can, and thanks for calling.

Hetland Snapshot

Born: Jan. 1, 1974
Birthplace: Stavanger, Norway
Residence: Trondheim, Norway

– VM gold medal, Lahti, 2001, 4x10km relay
– VW gold medal, Lahti, 2001, sprints
– World Championships Best World Cup Overall Season: 8th overall 2001
– Olympic gold, Salt Lake City, 2002, sprints
– VM bronze medal, Val di Femme, 2003, sprints
[more medals — not mentioned]

Little-known fact: Hetland is a certified scuba diver.