Olympian and two-time reigning champion in the season-long downhill rankings, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, was severely injured in a skiing accident at the Wengen downhill. During the event, the Norwegian skier suffered a few cuts, bruises, and a dislocated shoulder. This happened on the second day in a row of competitions at the Swiss ski resort, raising more questions about the rigorous schedule of Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24.

Kilde’s girlfriend, Mikaela Shiffrin, who was missing from the Altenmarkt-Zauchensee races because of a cold, hurried to be by his side. While he underwent surgery in a Bern hospital, the loving girlfriend flew from Austria, and tended to her man like a watchful mother.

Mikaela Shiffrin dons the hat of a nurse to bolster her injured boyfriend

Kilde’s dislocated shoulder and cut to his leg were confirmed by Norwegian team doctor Marc Jacob Strauss in a health update after Sunday’s Lauberhorn downhill collision. Shiffrin sat out of her weekend races only to visit Kilde in the hospital and sit by his side expressing her love. Post-surgery, Kilde posted pictures of the couple on Instagram. The first selfie showed the two smiling, followed by a picture of Shiffrin softly planting a kiss on Kilde’s forehead as he looks rejuvenated.

He captioned it, “I’m here (and being taken care of by the one and only @mikaelashiffrin *heart emoji wrapped by bandages*)…patched up…thank you so much for all of the messages. I’m grateful for all the words of love and support. This sport can be brutal, but I still love it. Will share more later.”  

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Little over two minutes into an exhausting run, Kilde flung off his skis, twisted in midair, and crashed horribly into the safety fences. This was the second similar accident in two days; on Friday, French skier Alexis Pinturault was also airlifted after crashing in the super-G race. Hence, noting the danger, top downhillers raised concerns regarding the Swiss Alps course schedule.

Athletes impugn the sports committee

Prominent downhillers Marco Odermatt and Cyprien Sarrazin criticized the decision to have speed races on consecutive days on a historically lengthy track, casting doubt on the intensity of the Wengen competition. Concerns were expressed over the physical toll on racers because of the demanding events, which included an extra downhill race on Thursday to make up for a postponed event.

READ MORE Look Back At Mikaela Shiffrin In 2023: From ESPY To 93 World Cup Wins

The consecutive events highlighted the necessity for a thorough examination of the race schedule, taking into account the participants’ safety as well as the historic significance of the locations. While the alpine skiing community protects the essence of the sport, athletes are now voicing to prioritize their health and safety first while the sports’ uncanny nature remains a constant.

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