From Champion to Commentator – Catching Up with Magnus Moan

This summer we will be “Catching Up” with former Nordic Combined athletes and find out where life has taken them after their careers, and how they still stay connected to the sport today.

For our first edition, we spoke with Magnus Moan. The 42-year-old Norwegian is one of the most successful athletes in Nordic Combined history, with Olympic and World Championship team gold, four Olympic medals overall, and 25 individual World Cup victories to his name.

Today, he is still deeply involved in the sport, just from the other side of the microphone. As a TV expert and commentator for Viaplay, Moan now brings viewers closer to the action with the same passion he once showed as an athlete.

And if you ask him where life has taken him after retirement, the answer comes with a smile: “You’ll often find me on the golf course!”

Memories that never fade

Looking back on his career, it is not only medals or victories that come to mind first. For Moan, the strongest memories are connected to the people, the atmosphere, and the experiences shared around the world.

“I have many great memories from my career, both the athletes I competed against, my teammates, and all the places we traveled to,” he says.

Championship events always held a special place in his heart. One memory in particular still stands out more than 20 years later: the 2005 World Championships in Oberstdorf.

“My first World Championship in Oberstdorf in 2005 was an incredible experience, with huge crowds and amazing atmosphere.”

At the other end of his career, the 2014 Olympic Games became another emotional milestone.

“My final Olympic Games in 2014 was also very special in many ways.”

Learning to let go

For elite athletes, retirement is rarely easy. Moan describes the transition away from professional sport as emotional and difficult in the beginning.

“It is always a special moment when you hang up your skis. You say goodbye to a life you have grown up with, a kind of family you lose daily contact with, and an environment that has shaped you as a person.”

But while one chapter ended, another began surprisingly quickly.

Moan found a new role as a TV expert and commentator, bringing the same passion and energy that once made him such a fierce competitor.

“I’m very grateful for the trust and opportunity I’ve been given to present Nordic Combined on TV, and I feel I adapted quickly to this type of work.”

Bringing the sport closer to fans

What Moan enjoys most today is helping viewers discover everything that makes Nordic Combined special.

“What I enjoy most about commentating is being able to showcase great sport and incredible athletes on TV,” he explains. “I want to help the audience discover our sport and make it exciting for everyone watching.”

And according to him, there has never been a more exciting time to follow Nordic Combined.

Even though he now watches competitions from the outside, his perspective on the athletes themselves has not changed.

“I still know how much work is behind every performance,” he says. “There is also a large support system around the teams doing an enormous job. It’s important to highlight those people as well.”

Impressed by the next generation

Moan believes today’s athletes still need many of the same qualities his own generation had: discipline, toughness, and versatility. But there is one development in particular that has truly impressed him.

“What’s really impressive is how much the women’s side of the sport has developed in recent years,” he says.

“I am truly impressed by the level they perform at, both in ski jumping and cross-country skiing.”

For Moan, the rapid rise of women’s Nordic Combined is something special to witness.

“We are witnessing a development that few other sports have experienced, and that makes me very happy.”

The adrenaline never disappeared

Does he still miss competition? Sometimes, yes.

“I do miss it in a way, but it’s also good to be on the other side.”

Especially because retirement has not completely removed the adrenaline rush from his life.

It is easy to imagine the former athlete still feeling every attack, every sprint, and every dramatic final meter together with the competitors he now analyzes.

The complexity behind Nordic Combined

For viewers at home, Moan believes one thing is often underestimated: just how difficult Nordic Combined really is.

“It’s probably the complexity of combining ski jumping and cross-country,” he explains. “There’s an enormous amount of work behind it, but for the athletes, it’s part of everyday life, they train for hours every day.”

He especially remembers the mental challenge of delivering in both disciplines on the same day.

“I remember that feeling myself, performing well in the jump and then having to compete in the tracks a few hours later with the goal of winning.”

For him, that is what makes the sport so unique.“It’s high-level sport, and so many things need to come together.”

Family life, business, podcasts – and golf

These days, Magnus Moan’s schedule is still packed.

Away from television, family life plays a major role. Together with his wife, he supports his two sons, aged 16 and 13, who are both active in football and golf.

“They need guidance and support, and I follow them closely,” he says proudly.

At the same time, Moan has built an impressive professional life outside sport. He works at the consulting company Capgemini in sales and customer relations, hosts two podcasts, Neste Versjon and Greia med Trening, and even runs an indoor golf venue in Trondheim called Birdiemaker.

“So as you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy,” he laughs, “but I truly enjoy it.”

And despite everything else going on in his life, one thing has not changed.

“I always look forward to a new and exciting Nordic Combined season with the world’s best athletes.”