Being a sportsperson is not the easiest thing in the world, but being a sportsperson in a relationship is tougher still. And perhaps that presents no example more recent or applicable than that of Winter Olympic stars, Mikaela Shiffrin and her boyfriend Aleksander Kilde.
The skiing duo have been dating since last year and in a recent media interaction, Shiffrin opened up about their relationship. With both having suffered personal tragedies, it took them some time to connect with each other, but they seem to have gotten along fairly well since.
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The duo is both alpine skiers and are favorites in their respective categories at the Beijing Olympics; Mikaela within the alpine skiing event in her category while her partner Kilde is a favorite to add to Norway’s medal tally in the alpine skiing speed event.
Mikaela Shiffrin in interaction with Reuters, spoke about how the two came together. Speaking candidly, Shiffrin told the media that the two started dating sometime last year. A turbulent time for the pair individually and personally. Mikaela tragically lost her father; and her partner, Kilde was recovering from a knee injury. Kilde’s injury kept him away from the sport and on crutches for several months.
Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her relationship
Shiffrin made no qualms about who made the first move between the two. “We met somewhere around seven years ago and I think he started the conversation by saying ‘Hi’,” Shiffrin added.
Reportedly, it was Kilde who made the first move “He also sent the first friend request.” And things went wrong before they went right again. Kilde asked her out on a date, but she jokingly rejected his initial advances. Shiffrin added “I sort of denied him. I thought I was being cute, but he seems to have taken it as a rejection.”
That was 7 years ago. But the real story actually begins last year when the pair actually got together. Kilde this time, first messaged her about how he was glad she was competing again after the loss of her father and they really hit it off. Shiffrin
said,?“this time we just never stopped chatting.”However, the two will be looking forward to the Olympics getting over as their schedules will finally give them some time together. As athletes, they have had to spend the majority of their time together in separate parts of the world competing in their own respective events.
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Perhaps it is best that the two found each other as athletes from the same sport. The troubles and pitfalls of an athlete are perhaps something they can help each other through.
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