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The most famous Swiss cross-country skier bowed out of the World Cup following the 50 kilometers in Oslo, Norway. Graubünden ends a golden career a few days before blowing out its 36 candles.
Quadruple Olympic champion, four times winner of the big globe of the World Cup, 26 victories and 73 podiums in 285 races in the elite: Dario Cologna is one of the big names in cross-country skiing.
Graubünden completed its last lap in international competition in Norway on Sunday. He finished among the top ten in the 50 kilometers of Oslo, more than a minute and 15 seconds behind the winners. A Norwegian trio made up of Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Sjur Roethe and Didrik Toenseth who finished the course just over three seconds apart.
Impressive longevity
In sports, the duration of the career is generally short. Dario Cologna can boast of having made his World Cup debut in 2006. He took part in a total of 285 races at the highest level before finally hanging up his skis. If he finishes in the top 10 on Sunday, he also comes out of the Olympic Games in halftone where he did not know how to win the podiums as in the past.
Because Dario Cologna was best known as a winner. His first gold medal, he won at the age of 23 during the 15 kilometer individual Olympics in Vancouver. Four years later, he won the same event in Sochi but also won the 30 kilometer skiathlon. Never two without three: he reiterates in 2018 for his third victory in a row in his favorite discipline of 15 kilometers.
Graubünden is just as formidable in the World Cup, where it wins the giant globe four times: in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. It also distinguished itself at the 2013 world championships by winning gold in skiathlon and silver in the 50 kilometres. The following year, he regained second place in the skiathlon.
His 26 victories and 73 podiums in 285 races testify to an impressive consistency in an extremely tiring sport.