Norwegian alpine skier Aleksander Kilde made an emotional comeback to World Cup racing on Thursday, finishing 22nd in the super-G at Copper Mountain, Colorado; his first competitive run in 683 days following a horrific crash in January 2024.
The 33-year-old suffered severe injuries to his right lower leg and left shoulder during a high-speed fall on the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland. Complications arose when he developed sepsis in his shoulder, requiring two major surgeries; one in Austria in August 2024 and another in February 2025.
Kilde originally planned to return at Beaver Creek in early December 2025, but accelerated recovery and growing confidence allowed him to race earlier than expected.
Standing at the finish area, his fiancée, American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, watched every turn with visible emotion.
Speaking after the race, Kilde was full of gratitude for Shiffrin’s unwavering support throughout the ordeal.
“She has supported me from day one; not only personally but also as an athlete. I’m glad I can share so much with her. The support I’ve gotten from her has been insane. I love her,” Kilde said (via bluewin.ch).
Shiffrin, who will compete in the women’s events at the same venue this weekend, described the moment as “very special” and added, “I’m very proud of him.”
The couple began dating in 2020, went public in 2021, and announced their engagement in April 2024.
While the 22nd-place finish was far from Kilde’s past podium form, the mere fact he was back on snow after nearly two years sidelined marked a significant personal victory; one made possible, he says, by the woman waiting for him at the bottom of the hill.
