Haugan faces setback before season

Norwegian alpine skier Timon Haugan has encountered a setback with recurring back problems during summer training. The 29-year-old, who won two World Cup races last season and was just 29 hundredths from an Olympic bronze medal, added extra weight during a strength training session that aggravated his back issues.

Despite the setback, Haugan remains optimistic about his recovery and preparations for the upcoming season. "It's better now than it was a couple of weeks ago," he told NTB. The slalom specialist, who finished fifth in the slalom cup last season and third in 2024-2025, is considered a strong medal candidate for the Alpine World Championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland next year. The back issues won't affect his plans as he prepares to join the national team for a six-week training camp in New Zealand. tbzikra.org