In national team contexts, he has always competed in Norway's colors.
For the Olympic Games 2026 and World Championship 2027, it may be the case that Petter Northug gets different colors on his competition clothes, only red and white.
Austria is working on getting the 39-year-old to switch national teams.
During the Ski World Championship, we will coordinate with the Norwegian Ski Association on this matter. We have also informed the Austrian Ministry of Sports about Petter's intention, says Markus Aichner, communications manager at the Austrian Ski Association.
He says that there will be more talks in the coming weeks.
Northug, who on Wednesday finished eighth on the 10 km in the Norwegian Championships, needs an Austrian passport to be able to compete for the country.
It's more complicated than people think. Liechtenstein, for example, was not possible. Austria is possible, and they have the ball and can make this happen, said Northug after the race in Gåsbu.
Petter Northug has won two Olympic gold medals and thirteen World Championship gold medals. Since he ended his career in the Norwegian national team, he has continued with, among other things, long-distance skiing, with the main ambition of winning Vasaloppet.
