Norwegian alpine ski star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during a downhill training session in Chile, dealing another severe blow to his career just as he was regaining top form ahead of the new World Cup season.welt.de reported that the 34-year-old speed specialist shared the news in an emotional statement on Instagram, accompanied by photographs from a hospital bed alongside his fiancée, American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin.

The injury leaves Kilde hospitalized in Valdres or undergoing treatment rather than preparing for the opening World Cup races, which begin next weekend in Sölden, Austria. “Right now I am devastated, angry, and frustrated. I need a little time to process it,” Kilde wrote in his social media update, adding that having a clear rehabilitation plan is already helping him cope.

Chilean Training Crash Ends Recovery Momentum

The latest setback occurred last week during a training camp in South America, where the veteran racer tore his Achilles tendon. Kilde spent months recovering from a catastrophic crash in January 2024 during the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, which caused severe injuries to his lower leg and shoulder.

Reflecting on the grueling rehabilitation process that followed that crash, Kilde noted that his daily focus had long been purely on healing and returning to his former level. “Lately that had finally changed,” he wrote, describing how he had been skiing faster, improving his technique, and enjoying the sport more than he had in a long time before the crash abruptly halted his progress.

With 21 World Cup victories across downhill and super-G, Kilde remains one of the most successful speed racers of his generation.

Sölden Season Opener Arrives Without the Speed Star

The alpine skiing circus opens its doors for the 2024–25 campaign on the Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden, Austria, holding giant slalom events next weekend without one of its biggest names. While technical specialists prepare for the opening glacier showdowns, Kilde faces an extended period away from the slopes.

The racing schedule in Sölden proceeds as planned by the International Ski Federation (FIS), though the men’s and women’s speed teams must navigate the early winter months without the Norwegian powerhouse. Kilde has not yet announced a definitive timeline for his return to snow, focusing instead on the initial phases of post-surgical recovery mapped out by his medical team.