Norwegian Nordic skiing champion Marit Bjorgen is expecting a baby in December and will not participate in the World Cup this season, she told Norwegian media on Tuesday.
“I have a little bomb to drop here today. I’m going to be a mother in December,” she told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
Bjorgen has won six Olympic gold medals and 14 World Cup golds.
The Norwegian, nicknamed “Gull-Marit” (Gold-Marit) at home, dominated the women’s cross-country skiing World Championships last year, taking four gold medals (sprint, 10 km, relay and 30 km) and a silver (skiathlon).
The 35-year-old said she hoped to be back on the circuit in time for the 2017 World Championships.
“I plan to come back. My goal is the World Championships in Lahti (Finland),” she told TV2.