The Kilde shock: Norwegian has to miss the Olympics

The ski competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place without one of the big stars. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will not be able to participate. A tough blow for the Norwegian.

February 03, 2026

From: cst

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will not participate in the 2026 Olympics! This news caused a stir in the sports world late Tuesday afternoon. The Norwegian is not fit enough to compete in the ski events in Bormio.

“This is extremely hard to accept,” Kilde told the International Ski Federation (FIS), describing his feelings. “Especially after all the hard work that I, my family, the medical team, the national team, and many others have put into this comeback.” With Kilde’s withdrawal, not only does skiing lose one of its stars, but the Norwegian national ski team also loses one of its absolute leaders.

Kilde competed in Crans Montana on Sunday. However, it wasn't enough to qualify for the Olympics. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Amidst all the drama, Kilde also emphasized the positives: "I'm very proud that I've made it back and can participate in the Ski World Cup again." Kilde suffered a serious crash in Wengen in 2024. On his road to recovery, the Norwegian was hampered by an infection, including blood poisoning. This season, Kilde returned to the World Cup circuit but recently had to reduce his training due to back problems.

After competing in the downhill race in Crans Montana over the weekend, his Olympic hopes were dashed on Tuesday. Kilde wrote on Instagram: "The comeback was a victory in itself. Now I'm looking for the next big win."

Keywords Winter sports Alpine skiing Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Olympia