As Mikaela Shiffrin prepares to chase her ninth victory at the Levi World Cup slalom this weekend, the American superstar and her fiancé, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, have given fans a rare glimpse into their future beyond the finish line.
In a candid interview with Swiss outlet 20 Minuten published November 5, Kilde confirmed that the couple is actively planning to start a family – but only after the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
“Both of us want that in the future, it will happen someday, but not yet now,” Kilde told reporters. “In the medium term, the Norwegian is aiming for family planning with partner Mikaela Shiffrin.”
The 33-year-old downhill specialist, who returned to competition last month after a 20-month recovery from a devastating crash in Wengen, acknowledged the challenges athletes face when balancing career peaks with personal milestones.
“Having children is not so simple. With increasing age, it becomes more difficult,” he added.
Shiffrin, 29, echoed the sentiment during the couple’s new podcast What’s the Point?! released October 29. When asked about persistent fan requests for her to step away from racing and start a family, the eight-time world champion responded with characteristic candor:
“That is really tempting,” she admitted, before adding firmly, “We are not done yet. We are also really good at what we are doing right now.”
The couple, engaged since 2023, has consistently prioritized their competitive goals. Kilde emphasized that their current lifestyle – constant travel, training camps, and race schedules – leaves little room for anything else.
“I would like to make it my top priority to be with you around the clock,” he told Shiffrin on the podcast. “But I know that we can do all that when we eventually stop.”
While no wedding date has been announced, sources close to the pair indicate the ceremony will also follow the 2026 Games, allowing both athletes to focus fully on what could be their final Olympic chapter.
Shiffrin enters Saturday’s Levi slalom as the overwhelming favorite, having won eight of the last ten editions of the Arctic classic. A victory would mark her 102nd World Cup win and extend one of the most dominant records in alpine skiing history.
For American fans eager to follow the action, the race will stream live on Peacock with first-run coverage beginning at 4:00 AM ET / 1:00 AM PT.
As Shiffrin and Kilde continue to inspire on snow, their off-slope honesty about life’s next chapter has resonated deeply with supporters worldwide – proof that even the fastest athletes know when to slow down and plan for tomorrow.
