John Røen was ninth in the 50 km cross-country race at Holmenkollen in 1926 and 10th in 1927. After some good results in the selection races for the 1928 Winter Olympic team he earned a ticket for St. Mortiz, where he competed in the 50 km race, failing to finish. John Røen ended his competitive skiing career after the 1928 season. Sigurd Røen, his younger brother by six years, was 1937 World Champion in Nordic combined and earned another gold medal as a member of Norway’s winning cross-country relay team.