Mikaela Shiffrin stood atop the podium in Sestriere on Sunday, draped in the weight of history. One hundred World Cup victories—an achievement no skier, not even Ingemar Stenmark or Lindsey Vonn, had touched. Her slalom run of 1:50.33 sealed a dominant 0.61-second win. Fans, viewers, competitors, and everybody celebrated Mikaela. Team USA athletes, including Paula Moltzan, erupted in celebration. Yet, amid the historic moment, Shiffrin, who had fought back from injury to stand here, felt the missing presence! And it was of her partner, her special someone!

After months of battling back from an injury sustained in Killington, where she suffered a deep abdominal wound in a giant slalom crash, she had finally returned to the top, but her fiancé, Norwegian ski racing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, wasn’t there to share the moment. Instead, he was recovering from yet another surgery, but this time on his shoulder—following the season-ending shoulder and leg injury that had already sidelined him for 2024-25.

The disappointment is not just injuries, but there is more to it—somewhere along the way, even something as ordinary as a hug became a luxury they could no longer share. “In the end, our health and happiness are the most important things,” Shiffrin said to BR24.

“It’s easy to forget that when you’re in the middle of competition and everyone wants to win. But ultimately, it’s something truly special to simply be able to use your arm again. I’m looking forward to giving him a real hug again, because it’s been more than a year since we could do that.” Having won what Shirffin had been looking for for a long would have definitely brought her happiness but not finding Kilde by her side would have definitely been upsetting. Kilde suffered a nasty stumble way back in January 2024 in Switzerland. And since, then he has been struggling with his shoulder, which must have restricted the Skiing GOAT from sharing a proper hug with her partner.

But was the surgery going to keep Kilde away from witnessing Mikaela cementing history? Absolutely not! He watched his lady love win the world from the hospital bed and made sure to celebrate her achievement by sharing his pride on Instagram. “Sorry Mikaela, I know you hate the GOAT talk—but sometimes your man should be allowed to brag,” he posted on 24th February. The three-time Olympian further added, “Today you hit your 100th World Cup victory—wow! So proud of you, and good luck to whoever dares to chase that record.”

For Kilde, it wasn’t just about numbers. He added, “…What stands out even more is the person you are every day—that’s far greater than any number of victories. As you best say yourself – <<it’s just a number>>.” Finally, he revealed his situation with a hopeful update: “On another note, I watched this from a hospital bed – just after a planned and (hopefully) my last shoulder surgery.” 

Kilde’s post was yet another proof of the deep communion and tireless support they have shared since the time they met!

Aleksander Kilde and Mikaela Shiffrin standing by each other through it all

What defines a partnership? Is it the joyous highs? Or the golden moments of victory, the shared adrenaline rush of a sport that takes them to the pinnacle of competition? Or is it in the unseen hours, the long, painful nights of recovery, the silent reassurance of a familiar hand gripping yours when everything else feels uncertain?

For Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Mikaela Shiffrin, love and support is probably what defines everything!

They first met in 2014, but their connection truly deepened during one of the darkest times in their lives. Mikaela, grieving her father’s loss in 2021, found unexpected comfort in Kilde. It was this time around when Kilde first texted her. He was fighting his own battle and was recovering from a knee injury that had left him on crutches for months. And then, fate intervened.

“He never ever stopped being nice and friendly but also always very respectful,” Shiffrin said to Reuters in 2022, recalling how their bond grew. She further added, “Last year he got in touch with me again with a really nice and supportive message to my family once I started racing again after my dad’s accident and this time we just never stopped chatting.”

They have since been each other’s anchor since then. When Kilde suffered a brutal crash in Switzerland in January 2024, it was Shiffrin who rushed to be by his side. “I’m here (and being taken care of by the one and only @mikaelashiffrin)… Patched up,” Kilde shared from his hospital bed.

But the road to healing was not one-sided. Just a month later, Shiffrin suffered her knee and MCL injury. Even as she worked toward her own recovery, she never stopped checking in on him and proving, yet again, that their bond was more than just about skiing.