Norwegian alpine skiing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has given a candid insight into the unique challenges he and fiancée Mikaela Shiffrin face as two of the world’s top ski racers trying to maintain a relationship amid demanding and often conflicting World Cup schedules.
Speaking to Olympics.com following his return to competition at the Stifel Copper Cup Super-G in Copper Mountain, Kilde highlighted both the advantages and difficulties of being engaged to someone who lives the exact same high-pressure lifestyle.
“It’s pretty cool to have a fiancée who does the same job and goes through the same challenges,” Kilde said. “But it can be very tough because you want to be there physically with each other, and that’s the hardest part, the distance is there.”
During the winter season, the men’s and women’s World Cup circuits frequently run on different continents or in different countries, meaning the couple can go weeks, sometimes months, without seeing each other in person.
Kilde recalled the emotional toll of watching Shiffrin crash in Killington last month from afar: “I was just sitting at home watching on TV. It was devastating not being able to be there for her right away. Those moments are really tough.”
Despite the obstacles, the 33-year-old Norwegian believes the shared experience has deepened their bond. “We understand each other on a level that very few people could,” he added.
Kilde also praised the unwavering support Shiffrin has given him, particularly during his long recovery from a horrific crash in Wengen nearly two years ago. At Copper Mountain, where he made his competitive comeback, an emotional Shiffrin was in the finish area to greet him.
“She has supported me from day one, not only personally but also as an athlete,” Kilde said. “The support I’ve gotten from her has been insane. I love her.”
The couple, who confirmed their relationship in 2021 and announced their engagement in April 2024, continue to make their long-distance dynamic work through constant communication and cherishing the rare moments their schedules align.
As both athletes chase World Cup points and prepare for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, their mutual understanding of the sport’s demands remains the foundation that keeps them strong, both on and off the slopes.
