SKØYEN (Dagbladet): – It’s a feeling inside of me that feels that I have a little more left to go on. I really thought that if I gave up now, then it might be the perfect ending, but also that I might regret it.

Marte Olsbu Røiseland told Dagbladet about the feelings he left after winning three gold and two bronze medals during the Olympics in Beijing.

A dream he had since he attended Sirdal High School.

For a perfect finish, the Olympics could be, for the queen of the championship to have achieved the most. The crown of his work was the first in his career to win the World Cup overall, at his home in Holmenkollen.

Which was also a dream he had had for years.

But after the season ended, Olsbu Røiseland needed some time to think about what the future holds.

One thing is for sure: change is needed.

– Unable to continue on the same path

In early April, a long thought process began for Olsbu Røiseland, who had to sit down to look at possible plans for a possible continuation.

Because even though he still loves biathlon, his longing for friends and family is getting bigger. Therefore, a plan to be able to combine the two is important in order to continue, he said.

– I am very clear that it cannot continue on the same path. There must be new challenges and new things in the plan, said Olsbu Røiseland, who stressed that they had now found a good plan for both.

However, the final decision came at the end of April, when her husband, Sverre Olsbu Røiseland, had decided to switch from coach of the Norwegian national development team, to assistant coach of the German national biathlon team.

And suddenly Olsbu Røiseland got the urge to continue.

– Especially when Sverre took that job at Rupholding, that was probably what kept me going for another year. It’s no fun starting a normal life without people you share life with. I think I can thank him for standing here today.

Next goal

Sverre Olsbu Røiseland has acquired an apartment in Rupholding Germany, where he will spend most of the spring and summer. There she has a language to learn and a new culture to discover, the biathlete said.

Marte Olsbu Røiseland will regularly fly to Germany. It is also possible that he will train with the German national team.

– Now I’m getting so weird and old that I’m taking a trip down, so I’m first and foremost going to be there with Sverre and follow my training plan. But if something happened by chance, it would be fun, he said.

But as her husband becomes coach for Germany, which will host the World Cup at the Oberhof next year, there is one particular thing that the Sirdal girl now dreams of, as her next and perhaps last destination.

– How cool would it not be to have a duel with the German team? It would be a dream, said Olsbu Røiseland, who stressed that World Cup gold was the goal.

– The era has ended

His goals in many ways can seem hairy to those on the outside and have seen Olsbu Røiseland take a total of three Olympic gold medals and eleven World Cups together. Including both individual and relay.

– In many ways, this is an era that is over, for me. I have achieved everything I dreamed of and had a goal. It’s a good feeling. But then I feel that I have more inside and there will be some new goals for you to set. Now there will be a World Cup at the Oberhof and I know that Sverre will do everything he can to look after his athletes as best he can. And that gives me a lot of motivation, says Olsbu Røiseland.

He concluded:

– Then I know that I also have to do a good job this year to try to give them a battle. I thought it would be a cool arrangement. Nice experience for both, I hope.