Federico Pellegrino, the most successful Italian male cross-country skier, is set for his last dance at Milano Cortina 2026 after clinching consecutive silver medals at the Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
The Italian sprint specialist has matured over his three Winter Olympic participation and reached a stage where he considers the swansong event as the ‘ultimate goal’.
“Ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, rather than putting pressure on myself, I’ve set myself a goal,” Pellegrino tells Olympics.com at an Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) Media Day.
“I’ve approached my career this way, and now after the Beijing (2022) Olympics, I decided to take a seasonal approach instead of a daily one, pushing forward relentlessly.
“I’m now a little over a year away from that event, in a physical and mental condition where considering it as the ultimate goal of my career is more than justified. Yes, we could call it pressure, but it’s positive. Because it’s my choice and it’s my goal.”
Pellegrino, 34, has recorded 18 individual World Cup wins, including 45 podium finishes since making his Cross-Country World Cup debut in March 2010.
He recalled watching the Torino 2006 for the first-time, advising those approaching the mountains for the first-time to try the challenge of cross-country skiing.
“I believe one of my greatest fortunes in having a long career is that, until the opportunity to truly compete at the highest levels of my sport came my way, I didn’t care much about it,” he reveals.
“I saw cross-country skiing only as a way to have fun. I was 15 years old at the Torino 2006 Olympics, and I barely remember those races.
“For those approaching the mountains for the first time, I recommend trying the challenge of cross-country skiing as well. While at first it may be a considerable physical effort, the satisfaction from a mental perspective is truly great.”