Remember that jaw-dropping moment about 9 months back when Mikaela Shiffrin’s fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, took a nasty tumble in Switzerland? It was on the iconic 4.2km Lauberhorn course, a brutal stretch in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit that only the boldest tackle. Kilde, the fearless Norwegian speed star, was grinding through the bottom half, fighting those sharp twists and turns with all he had—when it happened. Kilde lost control on the final bend, got flung airborne, and crashed hard into the safety nets near the finish line.

Medics rushed in, and though he could move a bit, he ended up injuring his shoulder and leg. Fast forward to this summer, Kilde was back on the slopes in June. But at the end of July, the complications began to unfold. Kilde noticed a heavy fatigue settling in, and that shoulder injury from Switzerland wasn’t feeling right. After a series of tests, he discovered the shoulder was infected, which led to surgery and some strong antibiotics. The meds seemed to be working, but the infection came back, landing him back in the operating room one more time.

And now, the hard news is official—Kilde won’t be back for this season’s FIS Ski World Cup. 32-year-old Kilde is a two-time Olympic medalist who has won 21 World Cup races and took the 2019-20 overall title. Kilde shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, breaking it to fans that he won’t be able to hit the slopes just yet.

“There was a big infection in my shoulder that had gone pretty far and I needed to undergo surgery for that. It was mentally tough, not just because it then takes longer for me to go back skiing,” he said, “but also I was asking myself: ‘Am I going to be able to really use my shoulder ever again?’” Kilde said. He also informed that “two of the muscles are still not attached at this moment, which means I need to do another surgery and reconstruct everything again.”

Meanwhile, as Mikaela Shiffrin preps for her own comeback after her frightening crash last January in Italy—where a misjudged jump landed her in a soft patch of snow and sent her careening into the safety nets—she took a moment to share a touching note for her fiancé. After what could’ve been a season-ending fall for herself, she’s now leaning into her love and support for Kilde.

On October 24, Mikaela Shiffrin hopped on Instagram to share a gorgeous montage featuring her and Aleksander Kilde from a Vogue photoshoot. The collection included solo snaps of both of them, along with some adorable moments they shared together at his summer home in Norway.

In her heartfelt caption, Mikaela Shiffrin reflected on the rollercoaster of a summer they’ve had, writing, “Though I’m heartbroken for Aleks as he continues to deal with lingering injuries related to his horrific crash in Wengen, I am SO inspired by his drive, positivity, and overall attitude as he’s dealt with obstacle after obstacle.”

Mikaela Shiffrin’s words paint a vivid picture of the struggles Kilde has faced since his accident. It’s clear that while she feels the weight of his injuries, she’s also lifted by his determination and incredible spirit. She describes him as “such a wonderful, inspiring human being,” which really shows how deeply she appreciates him. She wrapped up her post with a sincere note, saying, “Thank you all for the ongoing love and support you’ve shown him throughout this challenging journey.” The Norwegian ski team’s doctor, Trond Floberghagen, expected Kilde to return in the 2025-26 Olympic season.

“Unfortunately, neither the medical situation nor the timeline is compatible with an active season this winter. After a challenging injury break, Aleksander is now well-prepared and motivated for a new rehabilitation process, and we expect him to be back at the starting line next season,” Floberghagen informed. “I’m fully committed to my rehab and working towards a strong comeback. Thanks for all your support during this time,” Kilde said. Apart from Shiffrin, he also received support from the likes of American alpine racer River Radamus and 3x Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn. Meanwhile, the slalom queen is on her own track.

As the World Cup season approaches, Shiffrin has decided to forego downhill events and instead focus on her specialties—giant slalom and slalom—where she’s won most of her medals. After becoming the winningest alpine racer of all time, her present goal is to hit the lofty 100-medal mark.

The World Cup kicks off later this week in Soelden, Austria, with men’s and women’s giant slalom events. The World Cup concludes in Sun Valley, Idaho, where Shiffrin will look to finish strong on home turf. Amid all the ups and downs, one thing has remained constant: the support Kilde and Shiffrin have for each other. And that, in fact, got the official seal!

Mikaela Shiffrin supporting her fiance throughout!

When Aleksander Aamodt Kilde crashed brutally during the Wengen, Switzerland, on Saturday, January 13th, he was quick to share his experience from the hospital bed. Although Kilde seemed to be a bit battered, he was in good spirits and shared two selfies, which, of course, were taken by none other than his fiancee, Mikaela Shiffrin.

Having Shiffrin by his side, he said, “I’m here (and being taken care of by the one and only @mikaelashiffrin)… Patched up.” But even in that, the Team Norway star had his humor right to the end, all because of the great partner that he has.

While Mikaela had a pretty hectic World Cup schedule, she didn’t think twice about crossing the miles to be there for Kilde. This USA skiing star with 97 World Cup wins of her own, still made time to support him through his long recovery journey. Her dedication went both ways—just a month after Kilde’s accident, Shiffrin herself faced a knee and MCL injury, yet she kept tabs on his recovery even while managing her own healing.

By March 2024, Shiffrin joined her fiancé’s recovery process, stating that it’s a “long road”, but the worst was perhaps over; Kilde remained positive, assuring everyone, “Trust me—I’ll be back.” He was back in April, but not with any skiing update. Rather, the couple announced their engagement with an Instagram post!

The post had no words (were not even needed, we believe!), just emojis of a ring, hearts, and smiley faces, along with a picture of the newly engaged couple. They’ve been together for over three years after meeting at a ski camp. For now, the couple’s resilience is proof that they’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders through every twist, turn, and crash.