Aleksander Aamodt Kilde praises mindset of record-chasing girlfriend Mikaela Shiffrin after 82nd World Cup victory

ByLewis Mason

Updated 13/01/2023 at 14:24 GMT

Mikaela Shiffrin is just one win away from breaking the record for all-time World Cup wins for a female skier, while the overall record is tantalisingly close, with just five more victories needed. Her boyfriend, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, has praised her mindset, while revealing how, as much as she loves skiing, Shiffrin is not so keen on the competitive aspect of the job.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has praised his girlfriend Mikaela Shiffrin for her hunger to be a record breaker, saying her mindset “is just different”.

The American skier is on the verge of snatching the all-time women’s record for World Cup wins, having equalled Lindsey Vonn’s total of 82.

Shiffrin’s first attempt to go ahead of her compatriot ended in disappointment, with slalom world champion Petra Vlhova pipping her to victory in Flachau.

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The overall record is held by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark, who retired in 1989 with 86 wins to his name.

Speaking to Eurosport about Shiffrin’s desire to reach the top of the list, Kilde said, “It's mind blowing. There's only two other people in the world that's been achieving these many wins, but she has done it now. 230 races and 82 wins. These numbers are just insane to me and I, I can't really describe anything but the way when I talk to her; she's just enjoying skiing.”

She loves it, she loves skiing, she loves to get better.

Interestingly, Kilde revealed a side to Shiffrin that many people would struggle to comprehend, saying, “She's not that fond of racing, which is quite interesting when you have won 82 races. Her mindset is just different and that's why she's also a brilliant athlete and a skier.”

Kilde has 17 World Cup wins of his own, and most recently secured a stunning Super-G triumph at Wengen.

Speaking about how Shiffrin helps him perform to his best, Kilde said, “Yeah, we're normal humans as well. So we talk to each other about everything. But of course we do the same job. We have the same goals.”

“We try to achieve the same things and being able to just communicate with her about tough things, good things, uh, media, sponsors, plans, equipment, that's also a good thing. And knowing that she's one of the best in the world or the best in the world makes me confident in trusting what she says. And hopefully that goes both ways.”

Victory in Wengen saw Kilde beat odds-on favourite Marco Odermatt - who leads the way in this season’s World Cup standings.

He vows to keep chasing down the Swiss racer, saying, “Well, I'll never give up but of course, the shape he’s in right now it's incredible but I'm also in a good shape, so I think in the end, it can be a good fight.”

'How on earth does he do that?' - Kilde storms to brilliant Super G win at Wengen

Kilde knows things he has no control of need to fall in his favour too, saying, “Now with the weather being challenging, it's easier to cancel a downhill than a GS (giant slalom). And if there's more GS than downhills, then the mathematics are pretty simple.”

“But like I said, I won’t give up and try to win as many races as I can, and then we'll see in the end.”

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