Cross-country Olympic champion Petter Northug reported a skating accident while training on roller skis, saying a car struck him on the road. The incident, which he describes as a sudden collision, happened in the municipality of Asker in Norway, about two weeks prior to the account. Northug says he was traveling at roughly 35 kilometers per hour when the car unexpectedly halted, causing him to be launched over the vehicle and land on the pavement. He was taken to a hospital immediately after the crash and diagnosed with a sprain. The veteran athlete shared that after the examination he briefly rested in bed before resuming movement, reflecting that a sense of protection accompanied him during the event and that a guardian angel might have been near at the moment of impact.
Northug, renowned for his two Olympic skiing titles, has a prolific career with 13 world championships and two overall World Cup victories. He retired from professional competition in 2018, leaving behind a legacy as one of the sport’s most successful figures and a benchmark for endurance and technique in cross-country skiing.
An online discussion among fans included a note about personal favorites among Russian skiers, with Sergey Ustyugov named by some as a preferred competitor and admired for his style and conduct during races. Northug publicly commented on the athletic spirit and sportsmanship demonstrated by Ustyugov, highlighting how such qualities resonate with supporters and up-and-coming athletes alike. The exchange underscored the enduring interest in cross-country skiing and the ways athletes influence fans beyond their competitive records.