Bern, Switzerland - Norwegian downhill racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde found himself in a hospital in Bern after a harrowing crash during the classic Lauberhorn downhill race at Wengen. The athlete dislocated his shoulder and underwent surgery, with his partner, American ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, by his side.

Kilde, a three-time winner at Wengen and the overall World Cup champion in 2020, was airlifted by helicopter from the finish area after crashing into safety fences off the final turn. Despite the injuries, Kilde shared a photo on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, showing Shiffrin beside him in the hospital. In his post, Kilde expressed his love for the sport and gratitude for Shiffrin's care.

Shiffrin, who is scheduled to race in Austria on Tuesday, rushed to be with Kilde following his crash. The couple has been a prominent force in the skiing world, with Kilde being the two-time defending champion in the downhill standings and a two-time medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

According to Norwegian team doctor Marc Jacob Strauss, Kilde sustained a dislocated shoulder and a cut in his calf but avoided any fractures. Kilde underwent surgery on Saturday evening after enduring an intense run that resulted in a launch off his skis and a hard collision with the safety fences.

The racing schedule at Wengen drew criticism from star downhillers Marco Odermatt and Cyprien Sarrazin as speed races were scheduled back-to-back-to-back on the historically long course. The program included an additional downhill race on Thursday, replacing a previously canceled race due to weather conditions in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

While the added races served Odermatt well, who clinched victories on Thursday and Saturday and secured a second-place finish in the super-G, both he and Sarrazin emphasized the physical toll of three consecutive days of racing. Sarrazin finished as the runner-up in both downhill races and won the super-G event.

The incident involving Kilde has once again sparked discussions about the racing program's intensity and the potential need for reevaluating the schedule to ensure the well-being of athletes.

With Kilde recovering from his injuries, the skiing community eagerly awaits updates on his condition and hopes to see him back on the slopes soon, ready to continue his remarkable racing career.