In one of the most moving moments of the Alpine Skiing World Cup season, Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde returned to competition on Thursday (27 November) after 685 days away, finishing 24th in the super-G – but the result was almost irrelevant compared to the simple fact he was back on snow.
The 33-year-old had not raced since a terrifying crash in Wengen in January 2024 left him with severe leg injuries, a dislocated shoulder, multiple surgeries, and later serious infections. What followed was nearly two years of grueling rehabilitation.
Waiting for him in the finish area was his fiancée, American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin. The two shared a long, emotional embrace that spoke louder than any podium celebration.
“Having Mikaela in the finish area was a dream come true,” Kilde said afterward.
Shiffrin, visibly moved, told reporters: “To see him in the start gate was the greatest victory for all of us.”
The race fell on U.S. Thanksgiving, adding extra meaning to the day. Shiffrin later posted a photo of the couple on social media with a short but powerful caption: “Thankful 🥹”.
Her mother, Eileen Shiffrin, commented on the post: “I was trying to squish the nerves out of Miki… Keep her upright while we watched A Kilde fight his way back after a two-year battle with horrific injuries. Talk about grit and resilience.”
Shiffrin even turned photographer after the race, capturing Kilde congratulating the day’s winner, Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt.
For Kilde and everyone who has followed his recovery, simply crossing the finish line healthy marked a triumph far bigger than any race result – a testament to perseverance, love, and the unbreakable spirit of alpine skiing’s tight-knit community.
