Biathlete Ida Lien was one of the women who fought for a World Cup place during the season opener at Geilo this weekend, but due to back problems she had to withdraw, the Biathlon Union wrote in a press release on Thursday.
The same evening, the Norwegian Olympic hopeful says that the back problems are more serious.
“It wasn’t how I wanted to start the season. After much trouble with my back throughout the autumn, I have been diagnosed with a prolapse in my back. Now I am going through various treatments in the hope of avoiding surgery, but things are still uncertain,” writes Lien on Instagram.
The elite national team runner admits that she does not know when she will be back on the starting line, but she hopes it won’t be too long.
The start of the biathlon season from Geilo is shown on NRK on Saturday and Sunday.