Industry News
Norwegian ski racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde announced on his social media channels today that he will not compete during the 2024-25 season. ”Here we are, guys — don’t worry, I’m not retiring, but I do have some updates for you,” the speed specialist opened his video message on Instagram. Unfortunately, Kilde’s injuries have not healed enough to enable him to return to competitive ski racing for the upcoming season. The infection in his shoulder has been so aggressive that it has eaten away at his bones. In addition, two muscles in his shoulder are not attached, which will require another reconstructive surgery, making it impossible for him to train or compete in 2024-25. The dual Olympic medalist shared, however, that he will definitely come back for the 2025-26 season.
Kilde crashed in January 2024 during the Lauberhorn World Cup Downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland, which resulted in a severe cut to his leg and dislocation of his left shoulder. The dislocation also severed ligaments and caused extensive damage to the athlete’s rotator cuff. His injuries initially healed well, but he admits in his video that he could feel something was amiss in late June. While visiting his fiancé Mikaela Shiffrin in Colorado in July this year, a serious inflammation in his left shoulder flared up, and he was diagnosed and treated at the Steadman Clinic in Colorado. However, the infection failed to clear up, and the 32-year-old had to undergo several rinse-out surgeries in Innsbruck, Austria, where he currently resides.
“The last couple of months have been challenging. Physically, for sure, as well as mentally.”
— Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is one of the most successful Norwegian alpine skiers ever. He won the FIS World Cup Super-G Season Title in 2015-16 and 2021-22, the Downhill Season Title in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and the Overall Season Title in 2019-20. He led the 2023-24 Downhill races until his shocking accident at the Wengen Downhill. Kilde resides in Innsbruck, Austria, and is engaged to American ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin.
- Related: U.S. Ski Racer Mikaela Shiffrin & Norway’s Speed Specialist Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Are Engaged
Kilde thanked his fans and promised to attend some of the upcoming World Cup races as a spectator. We sure look forward to seeing him at some of the women’s races, cheering on his fiancé, and observing his competition at the men’s races. Unfortunately, the men’s and women’s Alpine World Cup circuit does not overlap in locations except for the finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, so Kilde will have to choose wisely.
