Ski Racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Shares Graphic Photos From Crash Recovery.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the renowned Norwegian alpine ski racer and two-time Olympic medalist, experienced a harrowing crash in late January 2024 during the Lauberhorn downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland. Known for his prowess in speed events—having earned the men’s overall World Cup title in 2020—Kilde was barreling down the course at roughly 120 km/h (75 mph) when he collided with safety netting at the final turn and was immediately airlifted to a nearby medical facility. Initial reports highlighted a deep laceration to his right calf and a dislocated right shoulder, injuries that abruptly ended his 2024 season and left fans and fellow athletes stunned by the severity of the accident.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, emergency medical staff performed urgent surgery in Bern to address nerve damage and repair his right calf. Following stabilization, Kilde’s right shoulder, which had been extensively damaged upon impact, underwent an initial arthroscopic procedure to assess ligament tears. However, surgeons soon discovered that the damage was more significant than anticipated, prompting a second, open repair of his rotator cuff and shoulder capsule. Despite the complex nature of these surgeries, Kilde remained surprisingly upbeat, sharing on social media that he felt “surprisingly well” considering the impact he endured. His partner, Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin, and both sets of parents were by his side during these critical early days, offering emotional support as he faced his first surgeries and weeks of hospitalization.
Approximately one week after the crash, Kilde provided fans with a candid look at his recovery by posting graphic photos on Instagram, warning viewers that slides four and five were particularly intense. In his post, he noted: “Week 1: tried going to the bathroom on a toilet once, and fainted; pain medication like clockwork every hour. Medical-heli transfer from Bern to Innsbruck (sooo thankful to get closer to home!). Successful shoulder surgery—both arthroscopic and then open method—to repair my entire rotator cuff and capsule (it turned out to be quite a bit more extensive than two ligaments 🥴).” The raw images of his injured calf and immobilized arm served not only as a stark reminder of the physical toll of top-level ski racing but also as an honest portrayal of the mental challenges he faced in those early days.
By week two, Kilde’s team announced that he had been discharged from the Innsbruck hospital, with doctors optimistic that, despite current nerve deficits, he would eventually regain full motor function in his leg and foot. In a follow-up update, he shared that he still couldn’t lift his toes, but the peroneal nerve “is showing some signs of firing,” and medical professionals expected a full recovery in his foot’s motor abilities. On the shoulder front, the orthopedic team had identified “a significant amount of damage” during surgery, yet remained confident that his shoulder would heal as planned. Week three saw Kilde settled into his family home in Innsbruck, leaning on Shiffrin’s unwavering support and focusing on the painstaking work of rebuilding his strength.
In a February 2024 interview with Viaplay Norge, Kilde opened up about the emotional and physical lows he encountered during the early stages of rehabilitation. He reflected on feeling like he was “at the lowest of lows,” as severe nerve pain forced him to lie virtually motionless on his back, unable to move comfortably. He explained that, due to his 100 kg frame and substantial muscle mass, pain management required unusually high doses of medication—something that posed its own challenges. “It’s been a rollercoaster,” Kilde admitted, noting that sitting in a wheelchair and wearing braces on his right leg and left arm was an experience he never imagined, even as a high-risk athlete accustomed to injuries. His decision to post graphic photos was, in part, to demonstrate that recovery was “not a walk in the park,” rather than glossing over the reality of his condition.
By April and May, visible signs of recovery began to emerge. Sharing another series of photos, Kilde reported that overall pain had “significantly decreased,” and that his surgical scars were healing remarkably well—so well, in fact, that “you can barely see the scars, especially on my calf/leg.” He celebrated smaller milestones: standing with equal weight distribution felt “so weird” after weeks of non–weight-bearing, yet it represented a huge leap toward walking normally again. He also credited the use of an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill for allowing him to reintroduce his injured leg to bearing weight in a controlled environment, adjusting bodyweight support to aid in his gait retraining. These glimpses into his evolving condition underscored both the slow pace of healing and his determination to return to form.
As the calendar turned to June 2024—roughly five months post-crash—Kilde made headlines again by returning to on-snow training at SNØ, Norway’s only indoor ski center in Lørenskog. Photographs captured him stretching his calf and gingerly carving turns down the 80 m vertical drop, evidence that he was “back to a normal existence,” although he acknowledged that “normal” for him still included significant rehabilitation. “It’s been a long way to get where I am today,” he told reporters, noting that he was “thinking about coming back as an athlete again,” even if returning to competitive form remained uncertain. His presence on the slopes in a ski suit and helmet, accompanied by a subtle smile, served as an inspiring symbol of resilience for the ski community.
Throughout this journey, Kilde’s public updates—rich in both graphic detail and candid emotion—have resonated deeply with fans, fellow athletes, and medical professionals alike. By sharing unfiltered images of his injuries and providing weekly breakdowns of his progress, he has highlighted the complexities inherent in recovering from high-speed ski racing accidents. These posts have also drawn attention to the medical innovations aiding elite athletes, such as advanced orthopedic surgical techniques and high-tech rehabilitation tools like the AlterG treadmill. Moreover, his transparency has helped normalize conversations around mental health, pain management, and the unpredictability of recovery timelines, especially in a sport where injuries are both frequent and sometimes life-altering.
Looking ahead to the 2024–2025 World Cup season, no definitive timetable has been set for Kilde’s return to competition, but his trajectory appears promising. Medical specialists remain confident that his motor function will fully recover, and he continues to make measurable gains in strength, mobility, and endurance. With Mikaela Shiffrin—herself a decorated Olympic champion—by his side offering unwavering support, Kilde is leveraging both expertise and motivation to navigate the arduous road to recovery. Fans worldwide are watching closely, hopeful that his patience, discipline, and positive spirit will culminate in a triumphant comeback on the World Cup circuit. We join them in sending our best wishes to Kilde as he continues this transformative journey, one that underscores not just the physical demands of alpine skiing, but the resilience required to overcome its most devastating moments.
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