Mikaela Shiffrin’s fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, recently opened up about the terrifying crash that turned his world upside down. He highlighted the pivotal role the American skier played in helping him find light in his darkest days.
Kilde suffered a horrific high-speed crash in January 2024 during the famed Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, one of the most dangerous courses on the World Cup circuit. Traveling at nearly 90 mph, Kilde lost control near the finish section and slammed violently into the safety nets.
The impact left him with multiple serious injuries, including a dislocated shoulder, deep leg lacerations, and nerve damage that required immediate surgery. The incident abruptly ended his season and cast serious doubt over his future in competitive skiing.
Amid the pain, the Norwegian says one constant presence that helped him push through was his partner, Shiffrin. Recalling the emotional aftermath of the accident, Kilde described the heartfelt moment he first woke up in the hospital in his recent conversation with ESPN.
“Waking up in the hospital after my crash, the first person I saw was Mikaela. I was laying there with everything bundled up and my face was just all messed up. But every time I moved, she was just like, “Are you OK?” And then I was just like, “I’m a little bit thirsty, and she said I got water for you.” She stayed overnight with me, and it was a very tough moment for both of us, but also, on the same time, very beautiful,” said Kilde.
Shiffrin revealed that she experienced the trauma from afar before rushing to be by his side. She said that she watched the crash unfold on television while training in Austria and immediately knew she had to be there for him.
“I was watching Alex racing in Vanguin on TV when I was in Austria and saw him crash at the very end of that run, and it was like, “I got to get to him.” Seeing me there, being one of the first people that he saw when he woke up, I think he saw that, and he was like, ‘Mikaela is going to show up for me in the moments when I need it the most.'” And that’s just kind of a sign of something that’s real, and it’s like a tangible kind of love,” said Mikaela Shiffrin.
The couple, who have been together since 2021, but this ordeal tested their relationship in ways neither had experienced before. Shiffrin is currently gearing up to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 10; however, Kilde, on the other hand, recently pulled out from the Games, citing resurfacing injury issues.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s fiancé, Aleksander Kilde opened up about ending his season early
Months after the devastating crash and days of rehabilitation, Mikaela Shiffrin’s fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, returned to the slopes this year. However, after competing in some of the World Cup races, the Norwegian skier shared a message on social media, opening up about ending his season early.
Kilde revealed that although he made a comeback, his body is struggling with the nature of elite-level racing. He uploaded a bunch of pictures of him on the slopes and announced his decision with a lengthy message on Instagram that read:
“Returning to the World Cup this season already means more to me than I could have imagined a year ago. Just making it back was a victory I’ll always be proud of. But I’ve also learned that coming back after complex injuries and so much time away is tougher than I expected,” wrote Aleksander Kilde.
He added:
“With the sudden jump in full-speed training on 3/6, my body has needed more time than my mind would like. That’s led to the back issues that kept me out of Kitzbühel and made racing in Crans-Montana anything but easy.
Because of that, I’ve decided to end my season earlier than planned.”
The post garnered the attention of his fiancé, Mikaela Shiffrin, who penned a sweet message in the comment section that read:
“I love you❤️💪”
Mikaela Shiffrin is all set to compete in three events in the 2026 Winter Olympics, including slalom, giant slalom, and the team combined event.
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