Olympic Champion Katharina Hennig Withdraws from Tour de Ski

Katharina Hennig has announced her decision to withdraw from the Tour de Ski, which takes place in Italy after Christmas.

In a statement on social media, Hennig, who finished 11th in the overall rankings of the Tour de Ski last season, cited concerns regarding her physical condition. She stated that her body is not able to handle the stress of over a week of competition at this time.

"Although the decision was difficult, the good news is that I am allowing my body the recovery time it needs," Hennig explained. "This way, I have plenty of time to properly prepare for the World Championships in Norway."

The Nordic skiing World Championships are set to be held in Trondheim, Norway, in February-March. Hennig won a gold medal in the team sprint at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

The Tour de Ski is set to begin in Dobbiaco, Italy, on Saturday after Christmas.