Svan resigns as Sweden's cross-country manager

Former Olympic and world champion Gunde Svan resigned Friday as manager of Sweden's national cross-country ski teams.

"I have carried out my assignment," he said. "I made this decision because of family reasons."

Svan, 47, supervised the men's, women's and junior national teams since late 2007.

"I know a lot of people talked about the (2010 Vancouver) Winter Olympics, but I never thought so far," he said. "I promised one season, but extended it by one year."

Svan, one of cross-country skiing's all-time greats, won four Olympic and seven world championship gold medals before he finished his ski career in the early 1990's. He also won 30 World Cup races and five overall titles, one behind all-time leader Bjorn Dahlie of Norway.