Back Home While the Season Ends Without Him
While the World Cup season wraps up in Sun Valley, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is recovering in Innsbruck, Austria, far from the finish-line drama. After undergoing major shoulder surgery, the Norwegian speed star is limited to short walks with his arm in a sling. It’s a slow and careful comeback for the 32-year-old, who has been sidelined since crashing in Wengen in January 2024.
Kilde is hopeful about returning next season—maybe not at the start, but in time to build momentum ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
“It’s something that I really miss right now, being so far away,” Kilde told the Associated Press. “It seems so far away when your body isn’t capable of doing what you’re used to.”
Multiple Injuries and a Major Setback
Kilde’s Wengen crash was serious. He suffered nerve damage and a deep cut to his right calf, plus two torn ligaments in his shoulder. Over the summer, he made progress, even returning to skis, but an infection forced him to shut down the season and undergo another operation.
About four weeks ago, he had what he called a “very, very complicated surgery.” To reconstruct his shoulder, doctors used a graft from his hamstring and part of his trapezius muscle. The procedure required him to build up his leg muscle in the gym just to prepare for it.
Now, he’s on antibiotics to guard against further infection and still wearing a sling. His walks are limited to 30 minutes, not because of his shoulder, but due to the hamstring graft site.
“At the moment, I actually don’t know how it works,” he said. “The only thing I know is that it’s not painful… it’s smaller than the other (shoulder), but it’s at least in the right position. So that’s a great feeling.”
Support System at Home
Kilde isn’t going through this stretch alone. His mother has been in town to help with meals, and his fiancée, Mikaela Shiffrin, has offered crucial emotional support—especially as both have dealt with injuries this season.
“A lot of challenges, a lot of pain for both of us,” Kilde said. “It’s nice to just have someone to talk to that really knows exactly what to talk about.”
Though they haven’t yet set a wedding date, the couple continues to navigate the ups and downs together. “We will find a date,” he said with a smile.
Still a Star on the Circuit
Even from afar, Kilde remains a beloved figure in the ski racing world. Known for his charisma and powerful skiing in speed events, he’s received countless messages from fans and fellow racers encouraging him to return.
“Every time I meet people and they say, ‘You need to fight back, because we need you back in the sport,’ it’s just amazing,” said Kilde, a two-time Olympic medalist and 2019-20 overall World Cup champion.
Using Recovery Time Wisely
During his recovery, Kilde enrolled in a real estate course through the London School of Economics. He’s since paused the program to focus fully on healing.
“I’ve used the time wisely,” he said. “But I’ve also tried to just stay calm and easy and not stress about the situation I’m in. It’s been four weeks since my last operation, and honestly, it feels like yesterday.”
Eyes on Cortina 2026
Kilde’s goal is to return to racing next season, but his long-term motivation is clear: the 2026 Winter Olympics.
At the Beijing Games in 2022, he took home silver in Alpine combined and bronze in super-G. He wants another shot at Olympic gold.
“It’s very good motivation for me to say to myself, ‘This is what I’m going to be 100% ready for,’” he said. “But honestly, I’m going to continue skiing for some more years. So just to be back is my biggest goal — and to be able to be competitive again.”
Information source AP
About the Author: SR Staff Report
