Finnish Cross-Country Skier Remi Lindholm Sidelined from Milano-Cortina Olympics
Finnish cross-country skier Remi Lindholm, who gained international attention for a particularly painful injury during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, will not be competing in the upcoming 2026 Games in Milano-Cortina. The athlete has been ruled out after suffering a fractured sacrum during a training session in May, an unfortunate setback that adds to his history of notable lower-body injuries.
From Frozen Penis to Fractured Sacrum: Lindholm's Unfortunate Injury History
Lindholm first captured headlines during the 2022 Beijing Olympics when he competed in what was originally scheduled as the men's 50 km cross-country skiing event. Due to severe weather conditions including fierce winds and temperatures dropping to -17°C, the race was shortened to 30 km. Despite the challenging circumstances, Lindholm finished in 28th place with a time of one hour and 16 minutes.
After the race, the skier revealed to Finnish media outlet IL that he had suffered from a frozen penis during the competition, describing the pain as "unbearable" when his body parts began to warm up after crossing the finish line. He remarked that it was "one of the worst competitions I've been in" and that it was primarily about "battling through" the extreme discomfort.
The Latest Setback: A Broken Backside During Training
Lindholm's latest injury occurred while training with a friend in May. The athlete took to Instagram to share the news, posting photos of himself on crutches and another image of himself sitting naked in a sauna. In his caption, he explained: "Here we go. We ran a few races with Miro and my back hurt. The end result is a stress fracture in my sacrum and a bit of a hiatus for a while."
The sacrum is a triangular bone located at the base of the spine, situated between the two hipbones. A fracture in this area typically requires significant recovery time, effectively ending Lindholm's hopes of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Notable Absences from the 2026 Cross-Country Skiing Event
Lindholm isn't the only prominent athlete who will be missing from this year's cross-country skiing competition. Reigning champion Alexander Bolshunov will not be defending his gold medal after his appeal to compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Russia was banned from the Olympics just four days after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games.
The men's cross-country skiing race at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics is scheduled for February 21 at the Tesero Cross-country Skiing Stadium in Lago, Italy. While Lindholm won't be participating, his story continues to resonate with sports fans who remember his determination through painful circumstances.
Finding Humor in Adversity
Despite the serious nature of his injuries, Lindholm has demonstrated resilience and even humor in the face of adversity. Following his viral frozen penis incident in 2022, the skier announced a sponsorship deal with an aptly named grooming company called Dick Johnson, showing he could find light in what many would consider an embarrassing situation.
Lindholm's journey highlights the physical demands and risks associated with elite winter sports, particularly those contested in extreme weather conditions. His absence from the 2026 Games represents another chapter in what has become an unexpectedly dramatic athletic career marked by both achievement and unfortunate injury.
