Mikaela Shiffrin and her fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, recently reflected on an awkward exchange that unintentionally delayed the start of their relationship. The 101st World Cup winner shared that the conversation took place during one of Atomic Ski’s media days.
Shiffrin and Kilde announced their engagement in April 2024 through a joint Instagram post, celebrating a new chapter after three years together.
An Awkward Conversation Kept Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Kilde Away for Six Years
Shiffrin and Kilde shared a lighthearted story about one of their earliest interactions, a misunderstanding that kept them from talking for six years. On the first episode of her podcast, the American recalled being socially anxious during an Atomic Ski media day, sitting quietly while others chatted in German and Austrian dialects she couldn’t follow.
After a brief conversation earlier in the day, Kilde later asked her, “So, when are we going to have dinner again?”, a playful attempt to ask her out.
But Shiffrin, unsure of his intent, replied, “We already had dinner,” which Kilde took as a flat rejection. “I was just like, ‘Rejected. Thrown in the trash right away. She’s long gone. It’s not going to happen,” he laughed.
On the other hand, the two-time Olympic champion thought she had been flirting. “The whole time I thought I was flirting. I thought you ghosted me,” she admitted. The couple then joked that their relationship was truly “a story of resilience.”
Shiffrin has already begun her skiing season but admits that she isn’t fully ‘ready’ yet but is excited for what’s ahead. Meanwhile, Kilde is eyeing a comeback to international competition after being sidelined by a horrific crash experienced during the Wengen downhill race in January 2024.
Shiffrin Reacts After Team USA’s Impressive Start at the 2025-26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Shiffrin couldn’t hide her joy after Team USA’s impressive start to the 2025-26 alpine skiing season as six American athletes broke into the top 20 of the women’s giant slalom opener in Sölden, Austria.
While the 30-year-old narrowly missed out on the podium with a fourth-place finish, her teammate Paula Moltzan led the charge with a runner-up finish. Nina O’Brien, Katie Hensien, AJ Hurt, and Elisabeth Bocock also performed brilliantly, finishing sixth, 12th, 13th, and 19th, respectively.
Despite missing a medal herself, Shiffrin celebrated the team’s success with pride, sharing on Instagram: “Dream no more… we’re doing it now. What a day for this team🥹. @paulamoltzan đź‘‘, @nina_obrien, @katiehensien, @ajhurti, @elisabethbocock 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @ustechteam For now, just… happy❤️”
It was Austria’s own Julia Scheib who thrilled the home fans by taking the top spot in the race. This was also her career’s first World Cup victory, making it an even more memorable win for her.