Francesco De Fabiani stops. © APA/afp / JURE MAKOVEC

"Hard to accept": Italian cross-country skiing hero retires

Federico Pellegrino ended his career after last winter. A close associate of the most successful Italian cross-country skier of the last decade has now followed suit.

June 17, 2026

From: leo

Two World Championship medals, 16 World Cup podium finishes (including three victories), and eleven Olympic starts: These are the impressive statistics of Francesco De Fabiani's career, who at 33 is now retiring from cross-country skiing. "The moment has come," the man from the Aosta Valley wrote on social media.

“After so many years of chasing a dream, traveling, toiling, suffering, rejoicing, falling, and getting back up again, I have decided to end my career as a competitive athlete,” explains De Fabiani. “It’s not a decision that’s easy to put into words or accept. Cross-country skiing has been my life for a very long time. It has given me everything: emotions, friendships, travel, victories, defeats, medals, disappointments, unforgettable days, and others that I would rather erase.”

Time for a new life

In his post, the Italian addresses the difficult past few years. Last season, he only competed in six World Cup races – without ever finishing in the points. His last podium finish – as so often before – was with Federico Pellegrino in the team sprint in March 2023. "I tried to keep that flame burning, to find within myself the motivation, the strength, and the carefree attitude needed to compete at this level. But at some point, you have to have the courage to really listen to yourself," De Fabiani explains.

They celebrated many successes together: Federico Pellegrino and Francesco De Fabiani © APA / BARBARA GINDL

He remains open about what his future holds. "Thank you, cross-country skiing, because it has shaped me as an athlete and as a person. I don't yet know exactly what awaits me, but I know that everything I have experienced will forever remain a part of me."

With Pellegrino and De Fabiani, Italian cross-country skiing loses its two most dazzling figures of recent years. The new generation, including Davide Graz and Elia Barp, will attempt to fill the resulting void.