Who Is Mikaela Shiffrin's BF, Aleksander Kilde? Her Dad, Jeff In Focus Amid Her Olympic Gold Win

Mikaela Shiffrin is currently making headlines for winning gold in the women's slalom on February 18, 2026, at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. This victory is being hailed as a major comeback after she failed to bag a medal in the 2022 Beijing Games and struggled in earlier events at the current Olympic Games. With her latest win, Mikaela created history by becoming the first American alpine skier to win three Olympic gold medals. She also became the first U.S. skier to win the Olympic slalom twice (in 2014 and 2026).

Having won her first slalom gold at age 18 in Sochi 2014, Mikaela Shiffrin is now the oldest woman (aged 30) to win the event, marking the longest gap (12 years) between individual gold medals in the same event in Winter Olympic history. Amid the array of records that Mikaela made at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, here's a look at the two men with the biggest contribution to her success, her fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and her father, Jeff Shiffrin.

Who is Mikaela Shiffrin's fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde?

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is a world-class Norwegian alpine ski racer specialising in speed disciplines of Downhill and Super-G. He is often referred to as the 'Arnold Schwarzenegger of Skiing' for his immense physical strength. Besides being the fiancé of Alpine skiier, Mikaela Shiffrin, Aleksander is a major figure in the sport in his own right. He has secured several discipline titles, including back-to-back downhill Crystal Globes in 2022 and 2023. He achieved the pinnacle of the sport by winning the Overall World Cup title in 2020. Aleksander also earned two silver medals (downhill and super-G) at the 2023 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Courchevel/Méribel.

Regarding his current career status, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde announced his withdrawal from the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 3, 2026. The reason for the same is his need for complete recovery following a severe, life-altering crash in Wengen, Switzerland, in January 2024. Despite making a competitive return to the World Cup in late 2025, lingering back issues and physical limitations from his injuries, which included nerve damage and shoulder reconstruction, forced him to end his season early.

How has Aleksander Aamodt Kilde impacted Mikaela Shiffrin's life and career?

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has served as Mikaela Shiffrin's primary source of emotional stability and technical motivation. Their relationship, which went public in May 2021, has evolved into a central pillar of support for Mikaela during both her historic triumphs and personal tragedies. During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she faced intense public scrutiny after failing to win a medal in multiple events. At that time, Aleksander publicly defended her, saying she's a "top athlete doing what a top athlete does," helping her manage the enormous pressure of the sport. The couple was also each other's support system during their brutal ski crashes in 2024 (Mikaela in Jan and Aleksander in November).

How did Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's love story start?

According to the Times of India, Mikaela and Aleksander first met approximately ten years before they started dating, at around 2014, at an Atomic media event in Chile. They shared an awkward dinner with her mother and her agent, as they were the only two athletes to arrive early. He was instantly smitten by her and asked her out later that same year. However, Mikaela rebuffed him with a joke, which he took as a serious rejection, and he stopped pursuing her. Mikaela and Aleksander remained friends until 2021, when their personal crisis brought them close. She was dealing with the loss of her father (who died in February 2020) and he was recovering from a major knee injury.

Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's public confirmation of relationship and engagement

Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde officially confirmed their relationship on Instagram in May 2021 and made their first red-carpet appearance at the ESPYs in July of the same year. After about five years of dating, they announced their engagement on April 4, 2024, through a joint Instagram post featuring Shiffrin's engagement ring. The couple joyfully shared the news with their families; however, Mikaela held one regret in her heart, her father, Jeff Shiffrin, was not around to bless them.

Mikaela Shiffrin's 2026 Olympic gold medal win brought her father to the spotlight

Mikaela Shiffrin's 2026 Olympic gold medal win in the women's slalom was a deeply emotional tribute to her late father, Jeff Shiffrin, who passed away in 2020. After crossing the finish line on February 18, 2026, she dedicated the victory to him, stating it was the first time she felt she could truly accept the reality of his absence while still feeling a "spiritual" connection through her performance. Jeff was the one who introduced Mikaela to skiing at age three. He not only taught her the technical aspects of the sport but also served as her personal photographer, travelling to World Cup races and capturing her performances.

More about Jeff Shiffrin and his career

Jeff Shiffrin was a man of many talents. He was an avid skier from childhood and raced for Dartmouth College during his undergraduate years. As an adult, he became an anesthesiologist, working with Vail Health and Anaesthesia Partners of Colorado. He spent decades treating and helping injured athletes and community members in the Vail Valley. In addition to his main profession, Jeff was a photographer. He was known for his live-action race photography, often staying out of the limelight to capture moments others missed. Interestingly, Jeff preferred to let his wife, Eileen, handle their daughter, Mikaela's coaching while he provided emotional and logistical support.

What are your thoughts on Mikaela Shiffrin's father and husband's contributions to her life and career? Let us know.

Also Read: Nancy Guthrie's Abduction: Savannah Guthrie's Cousin, Teri And Their 'Kidnapping Game' In Focus

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)