Transforming from Olympic Speed Skating Star to Businesswoman: The Ane Farstad Journey
Ane Farstad was once a promising speed skater with dreams of competing in the Winter Olympics in Italy in 2026. However, she chose to step away from the sport to focus on a new passion—building her fashion brand, Caspara, alongside her brother, Odin.
The 24-year-old began skating at just eight years old, and both she and Odin found success as skilled athletes, earning bronze medals in the Team Sprint at both the World and European Championships. Today, their talents have shifted from the ice rink to the world of fashion, where their business continues to thrive.
Balancing their careers in speed skating with growing Caspara eventually became too challenging for Ane and Odin Farstad. Although they launched the brand in 2023, juggling training commitments across Canada and the Netherlands proved overwhelming. Faced with a tough decision between their sporting ambitions and their rapidly expanding business, they reached a breaking point.
In an interview with Norwegian outlet 730, Ane shared, “It just didn’t happen. We were burnt out by the end of the season—completely drained. It was just the two of us running everything, and the constant pressure to meet customer expectations was unbearable. On December 24th, I found myself still answering emails. It became clear: it was either Caspara or skating—so we said goodbye to the sport.”
Ultimately, focusing on Caspara turned out to be the right decision. The Norway-based fashion brand saw its turnover soar to £560,000 in 2023 and now supports a team of eight employees. Despite the success, the transition wasn’t easy for Ane, who admitted, “I was always a skater, so stepping into the business world was a huge shift. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing at first, but I’ve learned more than I ever imagined.”
With 213,000 followers on Instagram, Ane Farstad has successfully leveraged her social media presence to fuel Caspara’s growth. While her earlier posts focused on her skating and modeling career, her content now highlights Caspara’s latest designs—often featuring herself modeling the brand’s clothing.
Managing both the brand’s operations and her personal platform, Ane, alongside her brother Odin, has ambitious plans for 2025, including expanding Caspara’s reach on an international scale. Their journey is a testament to the power of creativity, determination, and resilience. Despite the tough choices they’ve faced, their story proves that with passion and persistence, life-changing success is within reach.
