Ski Ace explains: That’s why Kilde posted a scary photo of his injury

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19 days ago, the season of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (31) ended abruptly in the finish S of the Lauberhorn descent. When he fell, he suffered a shoulder injury and a deep cut in his calf.

Two operations and the move from Bern to Innsbruck (Austria) later, the Norwegian speaks at an online press conference about what he has experienced since then. “It was a difficult time,” says Kilde. Especially for the psyche, because the pain causes sleepless nights. For him, it is “the toughest fight I have faced in my career, maybe even in my life.”

The operations went well

He recently showed off his wound on Instagram. The scary photo is a response to numerous messages, Kilde explains. “It sounded simple, a dislocated shoulder and a wound on the calf.” He received messages that people were happy that it wasn’t too bad and that I would be back soon. “But there won’t be a quick return. That’s what I wanted to show.” Because it was forgotten that he was also human. With the photo he wanted to “respect my condition and show how I feel.”

Because nerves are involved, it remains to be seen how long healing will take. Exactly this: the two operations went well, a third is not a problem at the moment. But: “It takes time, and time is something I have.”

“Back to a normal life”

Kilde does not want to say much about a possible comeback yet. “I sit here and I’m not sure if everything will heal in six months, one year or two years.” At this point it is not about “going back to skiing, but about returning to a normal life”. This also includes being able to walk again. For the time being he is dependent on a wheelchair.

His girlfriend Mikaela Shiffrin (28) is currently staying with him. The American has to sit out for a while after her crash in Cortina d’Ampezzo (It). “It’s nice to have her here with me, even though we don’t want to be in this situation at this point in the season,” Kilde said. While Shiffrin got lucky and escaped with a strained outer ligament, a number of top skiers have already had a bad time this winter.

Too much support program

Kilde sees reasons for this in the supporting program of the races. “We have evening commitments everywhere. This means stress for the athletes. We need to discuss this and find solutions.” Because one thing is clear: “We cannot allow so many drivers to get injured.”

He also refrained from all protective measures and traveled without an airbag or cut-free underwear. In the future, he will rely on cut-resistant materials, perhaps including an airbag, Kilde says. Even if he says that “the impact was so great that it wouldn’t have made much difference. The shoulder injury might have been a little easier.” (beer)

Source : Blick