“I’m homeless right now.” How the famous Petter Northug lives after retiring from sport
Yulia Sidorova September 12, 2023, 18:15 Moscow time
For the Norwegian champion everything is in perfect order: he is building an expensive house, appears on television and remembers his meetings with the king of Norway.
The prominent Norwegian skier Petter Northug announced his retirement five years ago, but he does not disappear from the front pages of the newspapers. Petter is probably one of the most talked about athletes in the world among those who have not competed for several years. Here and there his adventures arise, sometimes strange, sometimes funny, sometimes quite positive.
News recently emerged that a statue of Northug would be erected for €1 million, but not all great champions receive such an honor during their lifetime.
Related materials
Norway to erect statue in honor of Northug
Northug’s life included affairs with celebrities, drunk driving and seven months in prison. But these are all things of the past. Although right now Petter’s life is full of varied adventures.
So how does the Olympic champion live now?
“I have no home”
It may surprise you, but the champion and the rich man do not have their own house.
“I am currently homeless and living with friends and family,” Petter said.
The fact is that last fall the Norwegian sold his house in the center of Oslo for 7.2 million Norwegian crowns (at the current exchange rate, it is more than 65 million rubles). He used the money for construction: Northug is preparing a new house in the area of the Hafjell ski resort, between Oslo and his native Mosvik.
Meanwhile, while the works continue, Petter visits family and friends, while managing to train, compete in commercial races and continue working on the TV2 channel as an expert.
Peter Northug
Photo: from the personal archive of Petter Northug.
comedy show host
Things are going very well on television. Nortug is called on camera not only during cross-country skiing broadcasts. Petter and famous Norwegian comedian Harald Ey will launch a brand new comedy project in 2024. While its essence is being kept under wraps, Petter is happy to be working with Harald. In addition, the skier himself really likes to joke.
For example, after the story of a Norwegian politician stealing glasses at Oslo airport resonated around the world, Northug was one of the first to offer Bjørnar Moxnes free Northug glasses delivered directly to his home.
Does Northug deserve the title of best ever?
Classification
Bolshunov against Klebo. Legkov against Northug. Who is the best skier of the 21st century?
“Hello, Bjørnar Moksnes. If I had known you needed glasses, of course, I would have prepared them for you. They are in a slightly different price range than what you get at Gardermoen. You’ll already get two pairs in the mail, so I hope you have a good summer,” the former skier laughed.
King of Norway joke
But perhaps Northug’s most exciting current project is a book about his life, Petter Northug – Willpower, which he wrote with Norwegian ski historian Thor Gotas. This is the skier’s second book. The first premiered in 2018, immediately after the end of his career.
Peter Northug
Photo: from the personal archive of Petter Northug.
In his new memoir, Petter shares insights into childhood and loneliness, the highs and lows, and never-before-seen stories from his impressive career. And about a relationship with an unknown girl, about drug abuse and about the humor of the king of Norway.
Here, for example, is a passage about the king. In 2015, Northug was on the same plane as Harald and they were discussing the upcoming race in Falun.
“The flight attendant walked past us and my gaze lingered on her back for too long. The king has a good sense of humor, so he looked at me and said, “You’ll have to wait until after the World Cup.”
And Northug’s podcast will launch in October, where he’ll discuss these types of stories in even more detail. Interest in this project is already very high.
Northug also says he can play sports again:
The great Petter Northug wanted to return to the sport. Is this empty boasting or a real goal?
So it’s clear that Petter isn’t wasting any time. He was a showman even on the track and continues to be one off it. And people like it a lot.
