In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has pulled back the curtain on the grueling reality behind her glittering career, admitting that she and her fiancé, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, have been locked in “total survival mode” for the past year and a half.
The 30-year-old American icon, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated athletes in World Cup history, opened up about the relentless setbacks that tested their limits both on and off the slopes. Shiffrin’s own terrifying crash at the Stifel Killington Cup in November 2024 left her with a deep puncture wound to her abdomen—narrowly missing vital organs—and triggered PTSD symptoms that made returning to giant slalom training feel like reliving the nightmare. Meanwhile, Kilde endured his own “brutal” crash in Switzerland in January 2024, requiring surgery and a grueling 15-month rehabilitation that has kept him off the competitive circuit.
“We both have been in survival mode for the last year and a half,” Shiffrin told PEOPLE. “Total survival mode.”
The couple’s shared struggles have forged an unbreakable bond, with each leaning on the other through the “tough moments” that nearly derailed their dreams ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Shiffrin, who has since roared back to form—claiming her 100th and 101st World Cup victories post-injury—credits their mutual support for helping them push forward amid physical pain, emotional fog, and the quiet battles the public rarely sees.
Despite the hardships, Shiffrin’s resilience shines through. She’s not only defending her legacy as one of skiing’s all-time greats but also using her platform to discuss mental health, grief (including the 2020 loss of her father), and the raw humanity behind elite performance. Her new podcast, What’s the Point With Mikaela Shiffrin, features candid conversations with fellow athletes about purpose, fear, and perseverance.
As the Winter Olympics approach, Shiffrin and Kilde’s story is a powerful reminder that even the most dominant champions face invisible wars. What looks like unstoppable success on the podium is often built on sheer grit, love, and the will to keep moving forward—one painful recovery at a time.
