With exactly 100 days until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Norwegian alpine skiing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has declared himself on the cusp of full recovery from a harrowing two-year injury saga, expressing optimism about competing in his fourth Games.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the 33-year-old revealed that simply reaching the Olympic start line would represent a personal triumph following a series of severe setbacks that began with a high-speed crash in Wengen in January 2024. The incident resulted in a dislocated shoulder, followed by life-threatening sepsis—a complication Kilde previously described as a “matter of life and death.”
“At one point, I thought I’d quit,” Kilde admitted, reflecting on the mental toll of prolonged uncertainty about nerve damage and long-term functionality in his shoulder. While acknowledging that physical rehabilitation remains ongoing, he noted significant progress in recent weeks after months of stagnation.
Kilde reserved special praise for his fiancée, American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin, whom he described as “a rock” throughout his ordeal. The couple’s shared experience with career-threatening injuries has fostered a deep mutual understanding.
“She’s been through challenges with her own crashes,” Kilde said. “We know exactly what the other needs—space when it’s required, support when it’s not. That give-and-take is invaluable.”
He added that Shiffrin’s resilience continues to inspire him, particularly as both athletes prepare for the Olympic spotlight.
The biennial nature of the Winter Games adds to their allure, Kilde explained, distinguishing them from the annual World Cup circuit. “It’s bigger, it’s worldwide,” he said. “Having it back in Europe—and in Italy—makes it even more exciting.”
Kilde has previously claimed two medals at the Beijing 2022 Olympics: silver in the alpine combined and bronze in super-G. His potential return to Olympic competition will be closely watched as part of comprehensive live coverage on TNT Sports and discovery+ beginning in February 2026.
As the countdown to Milano Cortina continues, Kilde’s journey from near-retirement to renewed ambition underscores the physical and psychological demands of elite winter sport—and the critical role of personal support systems in overcoming adversity.
