HUGE CONGRATULATIONS: Per Elofsson turns 47 today – reveals why he nobs all TV jobs: “I’m not missing”

Per Elofsson is the icon who with his three WC golds became one of our greatest.
After five years, he is now free from the effects of a stroke.
But he is not interested in a new TV job.
– I am not missed, says the skiing legend.

With his three WC gold medals, Per Elofsson is one of the greats in Swedish skiing history. Elofsson also has a bronze from the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, and in the autumn of 2001 he was awarded Svenska Dagbladet’s achievement gold. But the career was short.

He does that today

It was in 2005 that he put the skis on the shelf. At the time, Elofsson was only 28 years old, and the announcement came after years of overtraining and burnout. After that, however, Elofsson has stayed close to the sport in a role as an expert, for all major channels. Over the years, Elofsson has been in SVT, Nent (Viaplay) and Discovery. The last time he appeared in an expert role on television was in 2018, for Discovery, during the Olympics in Pyeongchang.

In September 2018, Elofsson suffered a stroke. He became partially paralyzed, and he could barely speak. Now, six years later, he is finally fully recovered, and has barely any suites left. He has also resigned from his job of many years and instead took a job at Umeå airport.

– It’s service at the floor level, I can sit in the security checkpoint, load luggage, help people getting on the planes, but also look after the area, both inside and out, he tells Expressen.

Nobbing new TV job

Elofsson, who is often recognized at the airport, says in the interview with the evening newspaper that he enjoys his new job. He still follows skiing and everything that happens. But he is not interested in a return as a TV pundit.

– At first I was so affected in the first years after the stroke, with brain fatigue and everything. Then I didn’t feel it was worth going. I was tired and worn out and wanted to spend time with loved ones. Now I’m fitter, but if you look at Viaplay, which broadcasts the World Cup now, I think they’re doing a fantastic job, he says.

Elofsson believes that there are so many good experts today that he simply does not feel the need to return.

– It is not that you are missing immediately. There are so many others who do it well, he says.