Norway’s Ida Lien out of Milano–Cortina 2026 after back surgery

Norwegian biathlete Ida Lien has confirmed she will miss the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after undergoing back surgery.

Lien, 28, wrote to Discovery that her Olympic bid is over, explaining she hopes to be back on skis in February and perhaps make a late-season start if everything goes perfectly. Earlier this autumn she was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in her back, and on Sunday she updated her Instagram followers that she had completed a successful operation.

Lien has not competed in the World Cup this season due to her back issues. She made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, where she was part of Norway’s women’s relay team that finished fourth.

The setback means Norway will head to the upcoming Winter Games without Lien, while she targets a careful return to training once cleared by doctors.