Aleksander Aamodt Kilde ruled out of Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics - 'My mind and body are not performing the way I need them to'
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Updated 03/02/2026 at 18:33 GMT
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Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will miss the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as he continues his recovery and attempts to regain form following a serious crash two years ago. Kilde underwent surgery for a severe laceration and nerve damage to his right calf, plus two torn shoulder ligaments, after crashing in sight of the finish at the Lauberhorn downhill at Wengen in January 2024.
‘I thought I’d quit’ - Kilde says making Milano Cortina start line would be a ‘victory’ after injury
Video credit: TNT Sports
Two-time Olympic medalist Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will be forced to sit out the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, admitting he has fallen short of form on his journey back from a serious crash that upended his career two years ago.
In January 2024, Kilde had a horrific downhill crash in the closing stages of his run at the classic Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland.
It led to the Norwegian skier requiring surgery for a severe cut and nerve damage in his right calf and two torn ligaments in his shoulder.
Nine months after the incident, Kilde then required further surgery which ruled him out of the entire 2024/25 season.
There was hope that the 33-year-old would be in a position to participate having returned to the World Cup this season.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are set to get underway on February 6, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, but Kilde will be a spectator after winning the silver medal in combined and bronze in super-G at the 2022 Beijing Games.
"I have done everything I possibly could to be ready for the Olympics but my mind and body are not performing the way I need them to," Kilde told reporters on Tuesday.
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Aleksander Aamodt Kilde suffered a serious fall during the Wengen downhill in January 2024
Image credit: Getty Images
"It is extremely hard to come to this decision after all the work I have put in together with my family, medical team, the national team and many others. At the same time, I am proud that I managed to fight my way back and compete at the World Cup again."
Kilde, who has won 21 World Cup races in his career, returned 700 days after the devastating Wengen crash in November of last year at Copper Mountain.
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Shiffrin emotional as fiance Kilde makes long-awaited World Cup comeback
Video credit: TNT Sports
An infection in his shoulder developed into sepsis to cause further complications and delays to his return to competition. But following extensive rehabilitation work, Colorado welcomed him back to the slopes.
His fiancee, Mikaela Shiffrin, was there to watch his emotional return as Marco Odermatt started the World Cup super-G season with a Thanksgiving victory.
Kilde crossed the line 1.25 seconds behind Odermatt's time, finishing tied for 24th place.
But after spending another World Cup weekend in Crans-Montana, he and his team have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Games.
Kilde, the 2020 overall World Cup champion, finished 42nd in last weekend's downhill.
"The fact that he has been competing in the World Cup this season is a major achievement itself," said Claus Johan Ryste, sports director of the Norwegian alpine team.
"We will do everything we can to continue supporting him and to maintain the positive progress going forward."
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games, starting on February 6, will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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