Mikaela Shiffrin’s fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, reflected on his prime years in 2021, 2022, and 2023, when he was undefeatable on the slopes. Kilde has been trying to find his rhythm after returning from a two-year hiatus.
Kilde forged an inspirational return in November, before his original start date. He raced in the Super-G at Copper Mountain and received massive support from his loved ones, especially Shiffrin.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s Fiancé Aleksander Kilde Reflects on His Prime Years in Alpine Skiing
Shiffrin’s fiancé, Kilde, suffered a critical crash in the Wengen downhill during the 2023–24 season, and his injuries required surgeries and extended rehabilitation, sidelining the Norwegian for 22 months. However, the setback did not dim his spirit; instead, it allowed him to build confidence both mentally and in training, leading him to decide on a comeback in the 2025–26 season.
He was initially slated to compete in December 2025, but made a premature return to the slopes at the Copper Mountain Super-G race. His fiancée highlighted the comeback, as he picked up points with a 24th-place finish.
Recently, ESPN shared Kilde’s journey in the “On The Edge: World Cup Ski Racing”, and the first three episodes have already been released on the App. The episodes encompass his journey from being one of the top men’s skiers to someone just starting to ski from the ground up.
The 33-year-old recalled the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, when he was in his prime and unbeatable in the speed events, a period he felt was the best of his life.
“Skiing in World Cup is make it or break it. ’21, ’22, ’23, when my prime was basically, it was a fun time and probably the best time in my life. Feeling unbreakable basically,” he said.
Kilde also said that the injury-marred days were not only the toughest in terms of pain, but also because nothing was certain.
The Norwegian was the overall World Cup champion in the 2020-21 season, and the following season, he won two podium finishes at the 2022 Beijing Games.
In the ongoing World Cup season, ahead of the Cortina Olympics, the 33-year-old was scheduled to compete in the Super-G race at the FIS World Cup meet in Kitzbühel. However, he had to withdraw from the start list at the eleventh hour due to persistent health issues.
He said that back pain had been an obstacle for him in recent weeks and that it persisted despite physiotherapy and consultations with his medical team. He also shared an important message, emphasizing that athletes should not compete unless they feel 100 percent fit.
