Alpine skiing stars Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde have publicly responded to harsh online criticism targeting their relationship, including demands for Shiffrin to retire from competition to start a family.
In the premiere episode of Shiffrin’s new podcast, What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin, released on YouTube and major audio platforms, the couple discussed the negativity in a candid, hour-long conversation. Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the World Cup’s all-time wins leader with 98 victories, recounted comments urging her to step away from racing. “People tell me it’s time for you to retire and just go have kids,” she said, adding with humor, “Trust me, that’s very enticing—but we’re not done here.”
Kilde, a Norwegian downhill specialist and 2022 Olympic silver medalist, affirmed their commitment to the sport, stating emphatically, “We’re not done here, for sure not done.” The pair met at a ski camp in 2021 and announced their engagement in April 2024, during Kilde’s rehabilitation from a severe January crash that resulted in a fractured shoulder blade and ribs.
Shiffrin dismissed the criticism, describing their partnership as genuine and balanced. “We are just authentic,” she explained, highlighting a mix of playfulness, shared laughter, and personal development. “I feel it’s an equal amount of having fun and being silly, but also learning from him,” she noted, praising Kilde’s positive influence on her growth.
Undeterred by the backlash, the couple continues training together in Colorado and is preparing for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, despite competing in separate events that will prevent them from supporting each other in person. Shiffrin recently placed fourth in the season-opening slalom in Sölden and is pursuing her ninth Crystal Globe in the discipline.
Through their openness, Shiffrin and Kilde have turned public scrutiny into a demonstration of resilience, underscoring that personal relationships and professional ambitions can thrive simultaneously in elite skiing.
