Aleksander Aamodt Kilde currently moves around with the help of a wheelchair. He may still return to the top if changes are made in the Norwegian Ski Association.
The Norwegian alpine star who fell badly and was injured in January Aleksander Aamodt Kilde criticized his country’s skiing association in harsh words, the Norwegian broadcasting company NRK in the interview on Wednesday.
Kilde, who ended his season with an injury, has been disappointed with the association’s activities for a long time. The reason is a dispute over Norwegian athletes’ marketing and sponsorship contracts.
– I have a maximum of five years left in my career and when I finish, my income will stop. That’s why image rights are important. I would have the opportunity to get external sponsors without being the alpine skier Aleksander, and get, for example, 200,000 Norwegian kroner (about 17,500 euros) from one social media post, 31-year-old Kilde said.
The current athlete contract does not allow this.
– The amounts depend on what kind of person you are and what your own value is (in social media). In that sense, we can talk about millions.
For example, Kilde has 362,000 followers on Instagram.
Two-time Olympic medalist Kilde is currently in a wheelchair and is trying to rehabilitate himself back to the top. However, he makes his return conditional on changes being made in the Norwegian Ski Association.
– It’s hard to imagine an organization fighting against an athlete. Now I’m focusing on getting back on my feet, but the situation isn’t making it easy.
Reforms?
Kilde national team mate last year Lucas Braathen participated in an advertising campaign of a Swedish clothing company, for which the ski association reminded its athlete with a fine. The athletes of the Norwegian Ski Federation are clothed by a Norwegian company.
After the incident, Braathen announced his retirement. Also, for example, a cross-country star John Hösflot Kläbo has been at odds with the union for the same reason.
According to Kilde, new people who are ready for changes should be brought into the leadership of the union.
– They have an arrogant attitude and think that athletes come and go. In the end, maybe no one will come because there is so much pride in the union that you can’t get along with them, Kilde said.
The Norwegian Ski Federation replied to NRK that Kilde has been invited to discuss renewing the athletes’ contracts.