Nearly two years after his terrifying high-speed crash on the legendary Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Norwegian ski star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is still battling permanent injuries — and his fiancée, alpine queen Mikaela Shiffrin, has delivered a sobering update on his long road to recovery.
Speaking at a press event alongside FIS President Johan Eliasch, Shiffrin was candid about the lasting impact of the January 2024 accident that nearly derailed Kilde’s career.
“He has restrictions on his shoulder. He will probably be limited there for the rest of his life,” the record-breaking American skier revealed.
The crash was brutal: Kilde slammed into the safety fence at the finish S-section after losing control, suffering a deep calf laceration requiring dozens of stitches, nerve damage causing temporary foot drop and paralysis, a dislocated shoulder, and a subsequent infection that further complicated his recovery. He was even temporarily confined to a wheelchair.
Despite the setbacks, the 33-year-old is determined to make a comeback. Kilde has set an ambitious target to return for the first downhill of the 2025/26 season on December 4 in Beaver Creek, and he recently shared an inspiring Instagram video documenting his journey from the crash through rehab and back into training, captioned: “This is not just about coming back. This is about starting over.”
Shiffrin, who has been by his side throughout the ordeal, praised his progress while acknowledging the reality of the situation.
“He’s doing incredibly well,” she said. “But it’s also a very long road for him.”
The couple — one of skiing’s most high-profile pairs — continues to lean on each other as Kilde pushes through the physical and mental challenges of returning to elite-level competition. Shiffrin herself has faced her own share of injuries and mental battles but remains one of the most dominant forces in the sport.
Kilde’s resilience has earned widespread admiration across the skiing community, with many hoping the two-time overall World Cup champion can defy the odds and reclaim his spot among the downhill elite.
While his shoulder may never be the same, Kilde’s fighting spirit and clear goal of racing again this season show that the Norwegian star is far from finished.
The skiing world will be watching closely when December arrives. Can Kilde overcome permanent limitations to write one of the great comeback stories in alpine skiing?
