Ari Vatanen to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Helsinki
  • Last updated on

Vatanen created a stir on Thursday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Vatanen fans. Speculation had been rife that the Finnish athlete will announce his retirement from sports, at age 73, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 16/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouAri

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouAri was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouAri.”
— @DesireePlum, 15 Jan 2026
“I thought Ari Vatanen retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 15 Jan 2026

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