After a devastating crash that nearly ended his career, Aleksander Kilde’s journey back to the slopes has been a story of resilience, pain, and determination. With his fiancée, Mikaela Shiffrin, by his side through every step of a grueling recovery, the ski world has been waiting for this moment. Shiffrin, who recovered from her own fall in Killington last November to reach 103 World Cup wins, has been a constant source of support.
Now, the Norwegian star is finally set to return to competition for the first time since January 2024.
How Is Mikaela Shiffrin Reacting to Her Fiancé’s World Cup Return?
Aleksander Kilde has confirmed his long-awaited comeback will take place at the Copper World Cup in the USA, thrilling skiing fans. In an Instagram video announcing his return, Kilde shared his excitement with a caption, writing, “Ok, the day is here! After a lot of waiting, patience, work, and good preparation. I’m back in the gates at tomorrow’s race in Copper.”
The announcement comes after Kilde was airlifted from a horrific crash in Wengen, which left him with two torn ligaments in his shoulder. He revealed he is feeling ready for the Super-G on November 27, adding, “Feeling focused, ready, and more determined than ever to push my limits and make my comeback! It’s race day again 👊🏼”.
In response to the news, Shiffrin shared her excitement on her fiancé’s return to the World Cup slopes, chiming in with a comment: “😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍”
What Was the Hardest Part of Aleksander Kilde’s Recovery?
While the crash had a severe physical impact that required surgeries in August 2024 and February 2025, the two-time Olympic medalist revealed the crash itself was not what affected him most. During an appearance on Shiffrin’s podcast, Kilde explained that a post-crash infection took a deeper psychological toll and even led to panic attacks. He noted that athletes mentally prepare for crashes as an inherent part of skiing, but the infection was a different challenge.
“It just came out of the blue. I felt like I did everything right, and then suddenly, smack. That was bad,” he shared. Kilde explained how the fear of the infection’s return lingered long after his surgeries, creating constant anxiety.
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“That’s also been on my mind after the last surgery. Probably every day. And just like feeling that, ‘Is the infection back’..It’s just always sort of poking me in the side saying like I’m here..So that’s why I get those panic attack. ‘When I wake up in the middle of the night and just like, oh shit, it’s back.'”
Despite these immense challenges, the ordeal did not keep him away from the sport forever. Kilde returned to training in August 2025, a crucial step in his goal to secure a spot on Norway’s team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.