After missing two full seasons due to shoulder injuries, biathlete Linn Gestblom has made a remarkable comeback. On Wednesday, she claimed Olympic silver as part of the Swedish women's relay team. She describes the journey as incredibly draining but the achievement as almost unbelievable.
Linn Gestblom was sidelined from biathlon competitions for 635 days due to shoulder issues. Despite this, she returned and helped the Swedish women's relay team secure Olympic silver on Wednesday at the 2026 Olympics. With the medal around her neck, Gestblom expressed immense joy over the accomplishment.
"It means so much! When I didn't start the season two years ago, I set a goal to get here. But the road has been incredibly long and far from straight, so it feels almost unbelievable that I get to do this with these girls today," she told SVT Sport, nodding toward teammate Anna Magnusson.
Magnusson praised Gestblom's mental resilience: "Linn is incredibly strong mentally. She has a psyche beyond the ordinary, and I don't think I could have endured what Linn has gone through. She deserves this, really!"
The national team's head coach Johannes Lukas became emotional discussing her journey. "It shouldn't even be possible! But she has an incredible ability to believe in it all the way and does a great job," he said with tears in his eyes. He admitted he hadn't believed in such a comeback less than a year ago, but progress in Östersund and Livigno changed that outlook. Gestblom returned to the World Cup after 682 days on November 30, 2025.
