Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will not participate in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics due to a back injury.
What happened?
The 33-year-old Norwegian skier sustained the injury in a crash two years ago and has been struggling to recover.
On February 3, Kilde announced his decision to end his season early, citing the need for more time to allow his body to heal.
Why it matters for Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
Kilde's withdrawal from the Olympics is a significant setback for the athlete, who won a silver medal in Alpine combined and bronze in the super-G at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
He had returned to the World Cup circuit in November at Copper Mountain, Colorado, after missing all of last season due to the injury.
What comes next?
Kilde's best finish this season was 11th in the downhill at Beaver Creek, and he will now focus on recovering from his injury.
The Norwegian skier is engaged to American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin and has won the World Cup downhill title in 2022 and 2023, as well as the overall World Cup champion in 2020.
Kilde expressed his disappointment at having to end his season early, but also his pride at having been able to compete at the World Cup again after his injury.
He finished 2nd in the downhill at Kitzbuehel in 2022, before the crash that led to his injury.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics will take place without one of the sport's top athletes, as Kilde prioritizes his recovery and looks to return to competition in the future.