Portugal Colonial - Norway's Kilde withdraws from Winter Olympics

"I have done everything I possibly could to be ready for the Olympics, but my mind and body are not performing the way I need them to," said Kilde, partner of US star Mikaela Shiffrin.

"It's extremely hard to come to this decision after all the work I have put together with my family, medical team, the national team and many others."

Kilde, 33, won combined silver and super-G bronze at the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

Also the 2023 world championships silver medallist in super-G and downhill, Kilde suffered a serious fall during the Wengen downhill in January 2024.

The Norwegian had multiple operations before resuming training a few months later. But he then had to undergo further surgery due to a shoulder infection that developed into sepsis.

He missed the whole of the the 2024/25 season.

Kilde, the 2020 overall World Cup champion, made his return to action in November, but the decision to withdraw was made after he finished 42nd in last weekend's downhill in Crans-Montana.

"The fact that he has been competing in the World Cup this season is a major achievement itself," said Claus Johan Ryste, sports director of the Norwegian alpine team.

"We will do everything we can to continue supporting him and to maintain the positive progress going forward."

A.Motta--PC