Honest Granerud: “It’s been difficult” — eyeing a comeback for Milano–Cortina 2026

Halvor Egner Granerud, 29, describes a tough road back from an MCL injury sustained during a training fall in Lillehammer in February. The rehabilitation meant a late start to jumping and a much shorter build‑up than usual: only about two months of “pre‑season” instead of seven.

The setback also forced him to miss the home World Championships, which he notes were marred for Norway by the highly publicised jump‑suit scandal. “I’ve had to learn to feel my body again. It’s been difficult, but also inspiring,” he says. Granerud hopes to be fully ready for the World Cup opener in Lillehammer and then build form from there, with the goal of contending for medals in Val di Fiemme during the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Granerud recalls watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as a child and being inspired by biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen’s four gold medals. “The Olympics are what you remember best from childhood,” he adds, emphasizing how meaningful it would be to represent Norway and deliver results that delight fans.

Norway’s national ski jumping squads for the Olympic season are listed: Men — Johann Forfang, Marius Lindvik, Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, Halvor Egner Granerud, Benjamin Østvold (with Robin Pedersen and Fredrik Villumstad as alternates). Women — Eirin Maria Kvandal, Anna Odine Strøm, Thea Minyan Bjørseth, Ingvild Midtskogen, Silje Opseth, and Heidi Dyhre Traaserud.

With under three months to go until the Olympic competitions in Italy, Granerud underlines that representing Norway would mean a great deal and that he aims to be ready to fight for “precious metal.”