Sweden - The new biathlon season kicks off at the end of the month. The World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland, marks the start. While the majority of the athletes are full of anticipation, one former Olympic champion has plenty of worry lines on her forehead.

The Swede Linn Gestblom (30, formerly Persson) has overcome many health setbacks in the past, but now she has been slowed down again so close to the start of the season.

As the Swedish portal SVT Sport reports, she will not be able to compete this year. It is uncertain whether she will be able to return in 2025.

In February, Gestblom had to undergo a second operation on her left shoulder. Initially, rehabilitation following the operation went as planned, but health problems began in the fall.

"I was ill several times in October, so things haven't been going so well recently. There was no continuity in training," she explains.

So the German head coach of Sweden, Johannes Lukas (31), who comes from Munich, and she had to decide together to drastically reduce the load again due to the shoulder, but also the many infections with fever, sore throat and other cold symptoms.

A few weeks before the start in Finland, the 2022 Olympic relay champion is starting from scratch again, so to speak.

"I have to start all over again now. I don't know when I'll be able to get back into competition," says the 30-year-old.

She already had to have shoulder and groin surgery in the summer of 2023. She also had problems during her subsequent rehabilitation phase, forcing her to end last season prematurely.

At least from a personal perspective, however, the Swede had a wonderful summer in 2024 when she married her long-term partner Christian Gestblom.

Even if it was a wedding with obstacles , the biathlete has been on cloud nine more than ever since then.

Now, however, her health should improve again so that she can even enter the World Cup circuit in 2025.